Gentle electrical stimulation to keep muscles strong during stem cell transplant
Official title: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation for physical function maintenance during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Funded at VA Puget Sound Healthcare System · NIH-11511692 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses small, gentle electrical pulses to try to help Veterans keep muscle strength and reduce fatigue during and after stem cell transplants for blood cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Puget Sound Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2020 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2RX003245-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11511692 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are Veterans with blood cancers who are scheduled for hematopoietic cell transplantation at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System and can tolerate the stimulation device and follow-up visits.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with implanted electronic devices (like pacemakers), severe skin breakdown where electrodes would be placed, or who cannot tolerate the stimulation are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit.
What this research studies
You would wear a device that delivers mild electrical stimulation to key muscles while you undergo transplant care. Some participants receive real stimulation and others receive a sham (placebo) device so researchers can compare effects. The team will measure muscle mass, strength, patient-reported fatigue, and quality of life before transplant and through about six months afterward. The study focuses on Veterans with hematologic malignancies treated at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help transplant patients preserve muscle, recover faster, and feel less fatigued after treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Similar NMES approaches have improved muscle strength and mass in people with COPD and heart failure, but this approach is not yet well-established for stem cell transplantation in cancer patients.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Puget Sound Healthcare System
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Anderson, Lindsey — VA Puget Sound Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Anderson, Lindsey
Related research
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A researcher is pursuing a five-year plan to improve stem cell transplantation strategies for non-cancer blood illnesses, with a focus on safer conditioning, better stem cell collection, and gene editing.
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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.