Creating a device to help bilingual patients speak again
Official title: Developing a bilingual speech neuroprosthesis
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11003290 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a special device that helps people who can't speak because of brain issues, like after a stroke, by turning their brain signals into speech, and it’s designed to support those who speak more than one language so they can communicate easily and naturally again.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $42,196 |
| NIH project number | 5F30DC021872-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11003290 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are bilingual individuals who have lost their ability to articulate speech due to neurological conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or stroke.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not bilingual or who do not have conditions affecting their speech may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a speech neuroprosthesis that can help individuals with anarthria, a condition that impairs speech due to neurological issues. The device aims to decode brain activity into spoken language, allowing patients to communicate naturally and quickly. Importantly, this project will address the needs of bilingual individuals, enabling them to use both of their languages effectively. By bypassing damaged motor pathways, the neuroprosthesis seeks to restore communication for those who have lost their ability to speak due to conditions like paralysis or stroke.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly enhance communication abilities for bilingual patients suffering from speech impairments.
How similar studies have gone: While previous studies have focused on monolingual speech decoding, this bilingual approach is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Silva, Alexander Budugur — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Silva, Alexander Budugur
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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.