Characterization and Rehabilitation of Jaw Movement with a Wearable 4-DOF Robotic Exoskeleton
Official title: Characterization and Rehabilitation of Mandibular Functions Using Novel Wearable Robotics
Funded at Columbia Univ New York Morningside · NIH-11445531 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A wearable robotic jaw exoskeleton will measure jaw motion and provide guided, multi-directional jaw forces to help people recovering from trismus.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia Univ New York Morningside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 11, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $439,707 |
| NIH project number | 1R21DE036374-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11445531 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients experiencing trismus after cancer treatment who are candidates for jaw rehabilitation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without jaw mobility impairment or those unable to participate in wearable robotics rehabilitation may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project designs a 4-DOF robotic jaw exoskeleton that can track jaw movement and apply controlled forces to retrain jaw motion during cancer treatment recovery. The device will collect data on jaw kinematics to guide personalized rehab plans and quantify progress. Researchers aim to compare this active, data-driven approach with current passive rehabilitation methods to see if recovery can be accelerated. The work combines biomechanics, robotics, and clinical observation to support clinicians in tailoring therapy for each patient. The long-term vision is a data-informed rehabilitation toolkit for patients affected by jaw mobility limitations after cancer treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could regain jaw function faster and more fully, improving eating, speaking, and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Prior approaches are mostly passive; this study’s integrated, data-driven device is a novel shift with potential for meaningful improvement.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia Univ New York Morningside
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Agrawal, Sunil K. — Columbia Univ New York Morningside
- Study coordinator: Agrawal, Sunil K.
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.