NIH-funded research R01 grant

Limb coordination during movement after spinal cord injury

Official title: Limb coordination during locomotion before and after spinal cord injury

Funded at Georgia Institute of Technology · NIH-11378663 · Data updated 2026-11-12

Researchers are testing how limbs coordinate during movement before and after spinal cord injury in a way that could help people regain smoother walking.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionGeorgia Institute of Technology
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Atlanta, United States)
Project startFebruary 15, 2020
Project endJuly 31, 2030
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$542,369
NIH project number5R01NS110550-07
Project IDNIH-11378663 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Individuals with spinal cord injury who could benefit from improvements in gait and locomotion.

Less likely to help

People without spinal cord injury or with injuries beyond the scope of the studied models may not benefit.

What this research studies

This project studies how the spinal cord’s sensorimotor circuits work during movement after injury, using animal models and possibly human-relevant tasks. It explores how pharmacology and electrical stimulation can activate retained circuits to improve locomotion. The work builds on prior findings with electrical stimulation to understand why current recovery is slow and uncoordinated, and seeks strategies to achieve more natural gait. Results could guide future therapies to help people walk more easily after spinal cord injury.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to better strategies for restoring coordinated walking after spinal cord injury.

How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show partial restoration of walking with electrical stimulation but full community-level ambulation remains challenging.

Where this research is happening

  • Georgia Institute of Technology
    Atlanta, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Prilutsky, Boris I — Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Study coordinator: Prilutsky, Boris I

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.