Improving Deep Brain Stimulation for Stroke Recovery

Calcium imaging-based insights and guidance of deep brain stimulation to enhance chronic, post-stroke rehabilitation in a rodent model of ischemia

NIH-funded research Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru · NIH-11168966

This project aims to find better ways to use deep brain stimulation to help people recover movement after a stroke.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionCleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Cleveland, United States)
Project IDNIH-11168966 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Current treatments for stroke recovery only help about half of patients, so there's a big need for new therapies for those with long-term movement problems. Our team previously conducted a human clinical trial that showed promising results for deep brain stimulation (DBS) in stroke rehabilitation, but recovery varied among patients. This project uses advanced imaging in animal models to understand why DBS works differently for individuals and how to customize the treatment. The goal is to learn how DBS helps the brain reorganize after injury and to develop personalized ways to adjust DBS settings for maximum recovery.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This foundational work is for future patients who have experienced a stroke and live with long-term movement difficulties.

Not a fit: Patients who have not had a stroke or do not experience chronic motor deficits would not directly benefit from this specific line of research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to more personalized and effective deep brain stimulation treatments for individuals living with chronic motor deficits after a stroke.

How similar studies have performed: A previous Phase I clinical trial by this team showed promising but varied results for deep brain stimulation in stroke rehabilitation, indicating a foundation for this work.

Where this research is happening

Cleveland, 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.
Conditions Acquired brain injury
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.