Enhancing rehabilitation for people with ALS using breathing-friendly training
Official title: Enhancing rehabilitation in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-11367230 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to boost how well people with ALS recover and maintain movement and breathing by pairing traditional rehabilitation with a special pre-treatment called therapeutic acute intermittent hypoxia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $730,938 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG092782-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11367230 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with ALS who are eligible for rehabilitation and can participate safely in supervised breathing interventions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients unable to tolerate hypoxia-based procedures or with contraindications to respiratory interventions may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at combining a short, controlled hypoxia session with standard rehabilitation to strengthen motor function in ALS patients. Researchers will first optimize the short hypoxia protocol in healthy adults, then test it with repeated sessions in people living with ALS to see if it extends the benefits of rehabilitation. The study builds on years of animal and human research showing that specific breathing-stimulus therapies can promote nervous system plasticity. If successful, patients could experience longer-lasting improvements in mobility and breathing ability.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the approach works, people with ALS could maintain greater independence and quality of life for a longer time.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that acute intermittent hypoxia can enhance rehabilitation effects in other populations, but this exact ALS-focused combination is being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, Barbara K — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Smith, Barbara K
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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.