How baclofen and spinal cord stimulation interact in people with spinal cord injury
Official title: Determining electrophysiological and functional interactions between oral baclofen and spinal neuromodulation in humans with spinal cord injury.
Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11625970 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how a common antispasmodic medicine (baclofen) works together with spinal cord stimulation in people who have spinal cord injuries and live with spasticity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $550,273 |
| NIH project number | 1R56NS146584-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11625970 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with spinal cord injury who experience spasticity and are treated with baclofen and/or spinal cord stimulation.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without spinal cord injury or those not using baclofen or spinal cord stimulation are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
People with spinal cord injury often suffer from spasticity and impaired motor control. This project will examine how baclofen, a medication that helps reduce muscle stiffness, interacts with spinal cord stimulation to influence nerve circuits in the spine. Researchers will study electrophysiological signals and functional responses in humans to understand how these therapies affect movement and spasticity. The findings could guide safer and more effective use of spinal cord stimulation in patients who are also taking baclofen.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work may lead to better guidance on combining baclofen with spinal cord stimulation to improve mobility and reduce spasticity in people with SCI.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows spinal cord stimulation can improve motor function, but the combination with baclofen in humans is not well understood.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Grahn, Peter Jonas — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Grahn, Peter Jonas
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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.