Communication Bridge helps people with primary progressive aphasia talk more clearly
Official title: Communication Bridge: Optimizing an evidence-based intervention for individuals with primary progressive aphasia
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-11412609 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at people with primary progressive aphasia, this project tests a speech-language and psychosocial program delivered by telepractice to improve daily communication and quality of life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2017 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,211,372 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG055425-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11412609 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and their care partners who can participate in telepractice sessions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who cannot participate in telepractice or do not have communication impairments comparable to PPA may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
Primary progressive aphasia progressively impairs language, affecting daily conversations and social life. The team developed the Communication Bridge program and tested it in global telepractice delivery, showing gains in functional communication that lasted for at least six months. The current grant advances rigorous clinical trials to confirm benefits and build evidence-based guidelines for care. If successful, the program could become a standard non-drug option to help patients and their families communicate more effectively. The study will involve people with PPA and will examine how the intervention translates into real-world communication at home and in the community.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with PPA and their care partners could experience clearer communication and better quality of life through a scalable, evidence-based program.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier trials (CB1 and CB2) demonstrated feasibility and improved communication, with benefits persisting over time.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rogalski, Emily J — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Rogalski, Emily J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Communication Bridge: Improving language therapy for people with primary progressive aphasia
A proven language-therapy program called Communication Bridge helps people with primary progressive aphasia improve and maintain how they communicate with others.
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Bilingualism and language resilience in Hispanic people with primary progressive aphasia
Researchers compare different bilingual experiences to see how they relate to language decline and thinking skills in Hispanic adults with primary progressive aphasia.
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Transcranial current therapy for language in progressive aphasia
A world-class team is testing a painless brain-stimulation method to help people with primary progressive aphasia say more words and names.
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Improving communication support for people with primary progressive aphasia
This project improves and delivers an evidence-based speech and communication program to help people with primary progressive aphasia and their care partners, including through telehealth.
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Primary Progressive Aphasia: How speech and language decline happens and progresses
This grant studies a brain disease called primary progressive aphasia to understand why speech and language slip up over time.
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Noninvasive brain stimulation to improve word‑finding in primary progressive aphasia
This project uses gentle, noninvasive brain stimulation (tDCS) to try to help people with primary progressive aphasia who have trouble finding words.
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.