Enhancing hand rehabilitation after stroke using personalized brain stimulation
Official title: Towards real-time personalized brain state-dependent TMS to enhance poststroke hand rehabilitation
Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-10816855 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to help stroke survivors recover their hand movement by using a special technique that targets their brain activity, making rehab more effective and personalized for each person.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $317,119 |
| NIH project number | 1R03HD114188-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10816855 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who have experienced a stroke and are seeking to regain hand function.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced a stroke or those with conditions unrelated to brain injury may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how to improve hand rehabilitation for stroke survivors by using a technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) that is tailored to each individual's brain activity. The approach involves monitoring brain states in real-time to determine the optimal moments for applying TMS, which can enhance the activation of the brain pathways responsible for hand movement. By focusing on these personalized brain states, the goal is to improve the effectiveness of rehabilitation and promote better recovery of hand function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective rehabilitation strategies that significantly improve hand function in stroke survivors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results with TMS in enhancing motor recovery, but this personalized approach is relatively novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hussain, Sara J — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Hussain, Sara J
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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.