Mobile brain-computer interface to help veterans with paralysis control devices
Official title: Enhancement and optimization of a mobile iBCI for Veterans with paralysis
Funded at Providence VA Medical Center · NIH-11328988 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at improving a mobile brain-computer interface to help veterans with paralysis better control assistive devices at home.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Providence VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX003803-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11328988 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with paralysis due to ALS, stroke, or spinal cord injury who could benefit from an intracortical BCI.
✕Less likely to help
If a patient cannot tolerate implanted electrodes or has conditions preventing effective neural decoding, benefits may be limited.
What this research studies
This project focuses on making an intracortical brain-computer interface faster, more reliable, and easier to use for people with paralysis due to ALS, stroke, or spinal cord injury. It builds on existing neural decoding methods and adapts them for a portable, at-home system with a wireless signal processor and compact hardware. The goal is to deliver smooth, intuitive control for tasks like typing, clicking, and operating powered limbs or wheelchairs. The work blends engineering advances with patient-centered needs to improve daily life and independence.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, veterans and others with paralysis could use a mobile iBCI more reliably at home for communication, computer access, and control of assistive devices.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows that iBCIs can restore functional control, and this project extends those capabilities to a mobile, home-use system.
Where this research is happening
-
Providence VA Medical Center
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Simeral, John David — Providence VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Simeral, John David
Related research
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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.