Improving motor function recovery after spinal cord injury
Official title: Spinal Reflex Conditioning System for Enhancing Motor Function Recovery After Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
Funded at Biocircuit Technologies, INC. · NIH-10842323 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new, easy-to-use therapy that helps people with incomplete spinal cord injuries improve their movement and walking by training their brains to better control their muscles, making everyday activities easier and more enjoyable.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Biocircuit Technologies, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2020 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $988,604 |
| NIH project number | 5U44NS114420-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10842323 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with incomplete spinal cord injuries who experience motor impairments and spasticity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with complete spinal cord injuries or those without significant motor impairments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing recovery of motor functions in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injuries through a novel noninvasive therapy. The approach involves operant conditioning to help patients modify their brain's control over specific spinal reflex pathways, leading to reduced spasticity and improved walking abilities. The therapy aims to create a user-friendly hardware/software system that therapists can easily operate, making it accessible for clinical use. By targeting spinal reflex pathways, the research seeks to promote beneficial changes that can significantly impact patients' daily lives.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved mobility and quality of life for patients with spinal cord injuries.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using operant conditioning for spinal reflex pathways, indicating potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Biocircuit Technologies, INC.
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Clements, Isaac Perry — Biocircuit Technologies, INC.
- Study coordinator: Clements, Isaac Perry
Related research
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A patient-focused project aims to translate how brain signals control movement after spinal cord injury into new treatments that improve muscle function and reduce spasticity.
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A new, easy-to-use device called Polaris may help people with spinal cord injury, stroke, or other chronic conditions regain movement by guiding a specialized reflex-based therapy.
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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.