Helping patients and clinicians make shared decisions about earlier use of brain technologies

Improving Shared Decision Making in Early use of Neurotechnologies Across Different Disease Stages

NIH-funded research Pennsylvania State University, the · NIH-11360190

This project will create and test a patient-friendly decision tool to help people with neurological conditions, their caregivers, and clinicians weigh the risks and benefits of using advanced neurotechnologies earlier in the course of illness.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionPennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (University Park, United States)
Project IDNIH-11360190 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would be invited to share your experiences and preferences about using advanced brain technologies through interviews, surveys, or focus groups with researchers, caregivers, and clinicians. The team will use what they learn to build a patient-centered decision aid following international decision-aid standards and a pragmatic neuroethics approach. They will pilot the tool with people at different stages of a neurological disease to check clarity, usefulness, and whether it supports shared decisions. Feedback will be used to refine the tool so it works for patients, caregivers, and clinicians across disease stages.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are people with neurological conditions who are facing or may face decisions about advanced neurotechnologies (and their caregivers and treating clinicians).

Not a fit: People without neurological conditions or those not considering advanced brain technologies are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the decision aid could help patients and caregivers understand options more clearly and make choices that better match their values and goals.

How similar studies have performed: Patient decision aids have improved decision quality in other medical areas, but applying such tools specifically to early use of neurotechnologies is relatively new.

Where this research is happening

University Park, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.