Early focused scalp electrical stimulation after acute ischemic stroke (TESSERACT 2)
Transcranial Electrical Stimulation in Stroke EaRly After onset Clinical Trial-2 (TESSERACT 2)
This project tests a gentle, noninvasive scalp electrical stimulation to try to protect at-risk brain tissue and improve recovery in people who have just had an acute ischemic stroke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11180504 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you take part, clinicians will apply a mild electrical current to the scalp soon after your stroke using high-definition electrodes aimed at the injured brain area. The treatment, called cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (C-tDCS), is intended to calm harmful overactivity around the stroke and boost blood flow to tissue that might be saved. The team will use brain scans and clinical measures to see whether the stimulation helps preserve brain tissue and improve recovery compared with usual care. The study builds on animal experiments and a prior pilot where early imaging signs of benefit were seen.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults who have had a recent acute ischemic stroke and can receive focused scalp stimulation soon after symptom onset, typically at a participating stroke center.
Not a fit: People with hemorrhagic stroke, those far beyond the early treatment window, or those with contraindications to scalp stimulation (for example certain implanted devices or open scalp wounds) are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could increase the number of stroke patients who regain function by protecting brain tissue and improving blood flow early after stroke.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies and a small human pilot showed promising safety and imaging signals, but larger randomized trials are still needed to prove clinical benefit.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bahr Hosseini, Mersedeh — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Bahr Hosseini, Mersedeh
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 below.