Gastric electrical stimulation for stomach pain in gastroparesis
Official title: Gastric Electrical Stimulation for Pain in Gastroparesis
Funded at University of Louisville · NIH-11416260 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach tests how adjusting a stomach-stimulating implant may reduce pain for people with gastroparesis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Louisville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Louisville, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $633,705 |
| NIH project number | 4UH3NS140971-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11416260 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with gastroparesis who experience significant abdominal pain and have access to the implanted GES device, or who are candidates for such treatment, may participate.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose pain does not respond to stimulation or who cannot safely undergo device manipulation may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project will test different electrical settings on an implanted device that already helps with nausea and vomiting in gastroparesis, to see if pain can be reduced. The study will involve a three-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial during the later phase, after initial software and regulatory steps. Participants would go through periods with different stimulation settings to compare their pain levels and symptoms under controlled conditions. The team will work with FDA feedback to ensure safety and proper study protocol. If successful, this could offer a new way to manage pain for patients who struggle with gastroparesis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the approach works, patients with gastroparesis could experience less stomach pain and better overall comfort.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows safety and relief of nausea/vomiting with GES; this study seeks to expand to abdominal pain with specific parameter settings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Louisville
Louisville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Abell, Thomas Lyman — University of Louisville
- Study coordinator: Abell, Thomas Lyman
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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New England Gastroparesis Consortium: Neurobiology of Gastroparesis
A national project to learn about gastroparesis in children and adults by creating a registry and gathering information from patients to understand symptoms, quality of life, and disease progression.
-
Pediatric and Young Adult Gastroparesis Registry and Disease Course
This project follows children, teens, and young adults with symptoms of gastroparesis to learn how their symptoms change over time and what factors are tied to different disease patterns.
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Pediatric gastroparesis: building a nationwide patient registry
This grant funds a national registry to study gastroparesis and similar tummy problems in children and teens, with the goal of better understanding how the condition affects their daily lives.
-
Gut-resident macrophages and gastric function in gastroparesis
A study in people with gastroparesis to understand how gut macrophages affect stomach movement and gut barrier health, with the hope of finding new ways to treat the condition.
-
Peptide therapies for gastroparesis in diabetes
A new peptide-based treatment is being tested to help people with gastroparesis linked to diabetes by improving stomach emptying and reducing inflammation.
-
Prucalopride for gastroparesis in adults: a multi-site trial
A multicenter study tests a medicine called prucalopride to help adults with gastroparesis feel better and have fewer stomach symptoms.
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.