Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation to Improve Movement After Stroke
Official title: A Novel Method of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation to Enhance Motor Function in Chronic Stroke Patients
Funded at Magnetic Tides, INC. · NIH-11397366 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new non-invasive technique called kilohertz Transcranial Magnetic Perturbation (kTMP) is being tested to improve arm movement in people who have chronic stroke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Magnetic Tides, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (El Cerrito, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $884,357 |
| NIH project number | 5R44NS139730-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397366 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with chronic stroke who have impaired upper limb motor function and can participate in non-invasive brain stimulation sessions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without compatible medical history or interests in non-invasive brain stimulation for rehabilitation may not benefit.
What this research studies
This NIH grant supports testing a first-in-class brain stimulation device that targets specific brain activity to help stroke patients regain hand and arm function. Researchers will first confirm safety and tolerability in a larger group, then examine short-term and long-term motor improvements and the brain changes that accompany them. The study focuses on perilesional motor cortex and measures how kTMP affects real-world movement and neural signals. If successful, the approach could become a new option for improving quality of life after stroke.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could enhance upper limb function and everyday independence for chronic stroke survivors.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary brain stimulation methods have shown variable benefits; this project seeks to establish a more precise, tolerable approach with potential for consistent gains.
Where this research is happening
-
Magnetic Tides, INC.
El Cerrito, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Labruna, Ludovica — Magnetic Tides, INC.
- Study coordinator: Labruna, Ludovica
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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ARISE-CARE: Using AI to Improve Rehabilitation for Stroke Patients
A stroke rehabilitation project uses AI to help therapists deliver higher-quality care and make documentation easier for clinicians, with patients who have had a stroke in mind.
-
Instrumented brain organoids for chronic stroke repair
A study exploring how tiny, living brain tissue 3D «organoids» attached to flexible, safer electrodes could help restore brain function after a 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.
-
Abbreviated heart MRI to quickly find stroke causes
A short MRI-based test is being developed to quickly and affordably identify the cause of an acute ischemic stroke in patients.
-
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.
-
New AI approach to detect and predict atrial fibrillation after stroke
A patient-friendly AI-based method is being developed to spot atrial fibrillation early in people who have had a stroke, using wearable heart-rate signals.
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.