Developing a prosthetic device to help people with paralysis control movement.
Official title: Visuomotor Prosthetic for Paralysis
Funded at California Institute of Technology · NIH-11077790 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring how certain parts of the brain can help people with paralysis control robotic arms or other assistive devices, making them work better and respond more naturally to what the user wants to do.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pasadena, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2021 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $651,311 |
| NIH project number | 5UG1EY032039-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11077790 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with tetraplegia or severe motor impairments due to conditions like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or spinal cord injuries.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions that do not involve paralysis or severe motor impairments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how the brain's posterior parietal cortex (PPC) and primary motor cortex (M1) can be used to control neural prosthetics for individuals with paralysis. By studying tetraplegic subjects, the researchers aim to identify how these brain areas encode movement intentions and goals. The project involves implanting devices in both PPC and M1 to capture brain signals that can be translated into commands for robotic limbs or assistive devices. This approach seeks to enhance the functionality and performance of prosthetic devices, making them more responsive to the user's intentions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the quality of life for individuals with paralysis by providing them with better control over assistive devices.
How similar studies have gone: Previous clinical trials have shown promising results in using brain signals to control prosthetics, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Andersen, Richard a — California Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Andersen, Richard a
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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.