Instrumented brain organoids for chronic stroke repair
Official title: Instrumented brain organoids transplantation for chronic stroke treatment
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore · NIH-11372447 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study exploring how tiny, living brain tissue 3D «organoids» attached to flexible, safer electrodes could help restore brain function after a stroke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $649,688 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AG095506-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11372447 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with a history of acquired brain injury or stroke who could be candidates for future organoid-based therapies.
✕Less likely to help
This approach is experimental and may not be suitable for all stroke patients or those with certain brain conditions.
What this research studies
This project focuses on using human brain organoids to repair the brain after chronic stroke. It investigates how to safely implant these organoids into the adult brain and provide reliable electrical stimulation to support growth and integration. The team is addressing challenges like matching electrode stiffness, monitoring changes over time, and understanding how stimulation affects neural networks in a living brain. If successful, the work could move toward therapies that help stroke survivors regain function beyond the first 48 hours after onset.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to new restorative therapies that improve function for stroke survivors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed organoids can survive and integrate in developing brains and that electrical stimulation can promote growth, but chronic adult brain implantation remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Maryland Baltimore
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liang, Yajie — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Liang, Yajie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation to Improve Movement After Stroke
A new non-invasive technique called kilohertz Transcranial Magnetic Perturbation (kTMP) is being tested to improve arm movement in people who have chronic stroke.
-
Multisensory support to improve standing balance after stroke
This project uses extra sensory feedback to help people with long-term stroke improve their standing balance.
-
Biomarkers to predict who benefits from high‑intensity aerobic training after chronic stroke
This project looks at blood and brain signals to figure out who with long‑term leg weakness after stroke will get better with high‑intensity aerobic training.
-
Improving hand function in stroke survivors with muscle activation techniques
This study is looking at how special techniques can help people who have had a moderate-to-severe stroke improve their hand use, making it easier for them to do everyday tasks and regain their independence.
-
Understanding balance control while walking in people with chronic stroke
This study looks at how people who have had a stroke keep their balance while walking in tricky situations, and it aims to find ways to help them improve their walking and balance during recovery.
-
Training to improve balance and reduce falls in people after a stroke
This study is all about helping people who have had a stroke improve their balance and lower their chances of falling by trying out new training methods that focus on specific balance issues.
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.