Exploring how user perspectives can improve neurotechnology design
Official title: Neuroethics and human-centered design in neurotechnology
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-10948282 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how to make brain-related devices better by listening to the experiences and needs of patients like you, so that these technologies can be easier to use and more helpful for people with neurological disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 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 | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $448,684 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MH137095-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10948282 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experience with neurotechnological devices or are affected by neurological disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have neurological conditions or are not involved with neurotechnological devices may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the importance of incorporating patient and user perspectives in the design of neurotechnologies, such as implanted devices. By conducting qualitative interviews and focus groups, the project aims to identify user experiences and barriers to adopting human-centered design in neurotechnology development. The goal is to enhance the usability and ethical standards of these technologies, ultimately leading to better outcomes for patients with neurological disorders. The research will also engage neurotechnology developers to foster collaboration and improve design practices.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and user-friendly neurotechnological therapies for patients with neurological conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that incorporating user perspectives in technology design can lead to significant improvements in usability and patient satisfaction, indicating a promising approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chiong, Winston — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Chiong, Winston
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How cancer cells use exosomes to evade the immune system
This study is looking at how cancer cells use tiny bubbles called exosomes to hide proteins that can keep your immune system from fighting the tumor, and by figuring this out, the researchers hope to help doctors understand why some people respond well to cancer treatments while others don’t, ultimately aiming to creat
-
Reducing harm from smoking using electronic cigarettes
This study is looking at whether using electronic cigarettes can be a safer option for people who smoke traditional cigarettes, by comparing the health effects and exposure to harmful substances between the two.
-
Understanding how knee pain and knee obesity and muscle loss affect knee osteoarthritis
This project looks at how knee swelling, excess knee fat, and muscle loss relate to pain and structural changes in knee osteoarthritis in adults.
-
Cutaneous opioid signals in skin inflammation
A mentor-identified clinician-researcher at UCSF is studying how natural skin opioids regulate itch and pain in inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and hidradenitis, with plans to map where these opioids come from and how they affect skin nerves.
-
Pooling international data to understand long-term bisphosphonate use and atypical femur fractures
This project combines large patient datasets from multiple countries to understand how long-term bisphosphonate use relates to rare hip and thigh bone fractures, helping doctors and patients make safer treatment choices.
-
Airway cell and immune cell talks in lung transplant failure
This grant tests how airway cells and immune cells interact to drive chronic rejection after lung transplant, with the goal of slowing or preventing scar-like damage.
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.