Noradrenergic VNS to boost stroke rehab outcomes
Official title: Noradrenergic mechanisms of vagus nerve stimulation mediated stroke rehabilitation
Funded at University of Texas Dallas · NIH-11333269 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-oriented look at a therapy that combines brief vagus nerve stimulation with physical rehab to help people recover arm movement after a stroke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Dallas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richardson, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $390,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS123074-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11333269 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with chronic upper limb motor impairment after stroke who are candidates for neuromodulation-assisted rehabilitation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without stroke or with non-motor impairments may not benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
This grant explores a therapy that pairs short bursts of vagus nerve stimulation with motor rehabilitation to promote brain changes that support arm movement after stroke. It builds on prior work showing that stimulating neuromodulatory systems during training can improve recovery and aims to refine the approach to help more patients benefit. Researchers will study how this combination affects brain plasticity in motor networks and whether it translates into better forelimb function in preclinical and early human settings. The goal is to optimize the therapy so it is safer, more effective, and useful for a larger group of stroke survivors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience greater improvement in arm function after stroke and regain more independence.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier trials and preclinical work suggest that VNS paired with training can enhance recovery, with FDA-approved use for upper limb recovery in chronic stroke.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Dallas
Richardson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thorn, Catherine a — University of Texas Dallas
- Study coordinator: Thorn, Catherine a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how vagus nerve stimulation helps stroke recovery to guide better treatments
This NIH grant uses computer models to figure out how brief, task-timed vagus nerve stimulation affects the brain after stroke and helps movement recovery.
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Calcium imaging guides deep brain stimulation to boost chronic stroke recovery in a rat model
A research team is testing how customizing deep brain stimulation parameters in rats with stroke can improve long-term motor recovery, with the goal of guiding future patient treatments.
-
Targeting synapse turnover to boost stroke recovery
Aims to find ways to shape brain rewiring after stroke by guiding how synapses grow, with the goal of helping adults recover upper-limb function.
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Wearable EMG-FES System to Help Stroke Recovery and Find Biological Markers
A wearable sleeve that uses your own muscle signals to help arm movement after stroke, while researchers look for biological clues that track recovery.
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How rehab changes the brain after stroke
This project will look at how rehabilitation training changes brain activity and connections after stroke to help people regain movement.
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Prism adaptation for right-brain stroke rehabilitation
A personalized approach using prism adaptation to help people with spatial neglect after a right-hemisphere stroke improve everyday functioning.
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.