Improving recovery and daily function for Veterans after stroke
Official title: Enhancing function for Veterans post-stroke at the system and individual level
Funded at Philadelphia VA Medical Center · NIH-11166432 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will develop and try out ways to help older Veterans regain physical ability and stay active after a stroke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Philadelphia VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2024 |
| Project end | September 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2HX003787-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11166432 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older Veterans who have had a stroke and recently completed post-acute rehabilitation, especially those enrolled in VA care, are the primary candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not Veterans, not enrolled in VA care, medically unstable, or with severe cognitive impairment that prevents participation may not benefit from this work.
What this research studies
You may be asked to share information about your abilities when you finish formal rehabilitation so researchers can see how much difficulty remains and whether that differs across groups of Veterans. The team will review VA health records and follow up with Veterans over time to track recovery and related outcomes like hospital readmissions and quality of life. Based on those findings, researchers will create and pilot scalable programs to increase regular physical activity and support self-management for older Veterans after stroke. Participation could include wearing an activity tracker, completing brief surveys, and attending follow-up visits at the VA or remotely.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help Veterans recover more function, stay active longer, and improve quality of life while reducing readmissions.
How similar studies have gone: Physical activity programs have been shown to help recovery after stroke in prior research, but scalable, VA-focused interventions for older Veterans are relatively untested.
Where this research is happening
-
Philadelphia VA Medical Center
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Waddell, Kimberly — Philadelphia VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Waddell, Kimberly
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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.