BrainGate to Help Veterans with ALS Communicate
Official title: BrainGate: Robust Neural Decoding for Veterans with ALS
Funded at Providence VA Medical Center · NIH-11309544 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project helps Veterans with conditions like ALS regain communication and independence by using a special brain interface system.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Providence VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2017 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX002295-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11309544 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are Veterans or other individuals with ALS who are experiencing severe paralysis and loss of speech, particularly those near the Providence VA Medical Center.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage ALS or other conditions not involving severe paralysis and communication loss may not directly benefit from this specific intervention.
What this research studies
For people with advanced ALS, losing the ability to speak and move can lead to a 'locked-in' state where communication becomes very difficult. Traditional communication devices often stop working as the disease progresses, but brain-computer interfaces offer a new path by directly reading brain signals. This project builds on the BrainGate system to give Veterans wireless control over computers and tablets using their thoughts. Participants will have tiny sensors placed in their brain's movement area and will take part in regular sessions from their homes to help refine this technology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this technology could restore vital communication and independence for individuals living with severe paralysis, including those with advanced ALS.
How similar studies have gone: This project expands upon significant prior progress made with the investigational BrainGate Neural Interface system.
Where this research is happening
-
Providence VA Medical Center
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hochberg, Leigh R — Providence VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Hochberg, Leigh R
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.