Personalized adaptive deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease
Official title: An Integrated Biomarker Approach to Personalized, Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson Disease
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11264820 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is creating DBS that automatically adjusts stimulation using brain signals and movement markers to help people with Parkinson's get better symptom control.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $929,603 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3NS129898-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11264820 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with Parkinson's who have motor symptoms (tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia/dyskinesia) and are eligible for DBS surgery or already have an implanted DBS system are the best candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People whose symptoms are primarily non-motor, who cannot undergo DBS surgery, or who have severe cognitive impairment or other contraindications to DBS are unlikely to benefit from this work.
What this research studies
If you have Parkinson's disease and are a candidate for DBS (or already have a DBS device), researchers will record brain activity and movement signals and use those signals to guide automatic changes in stimulation. The team will combine multiple biomarkers (beyond the usual beta-band signal) and build software 'control policies' that change stimulation over minutes to months. They will compare this adaptive approach to standard continuous DBS to see whether it improves symptoms, reduces programming needs, and uses device power more efficiently. Participation will require clinic visits, recordings, and close follow-up at the study center.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to DBS that better controls motor symptoms with fewer clinic visits and longer device life.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier small trials using beta-band signals for adaptive DBS have shown promise, but integrating multiple biomarkers and multi-layered autonomous control is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Turner, Dennis Alan — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Turner, Dennis Alan
Related research
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This study is looking at how deep brain stimulation can help improve voice, swallowing, and coughing for people with Parkinson's disease, so we can find the best ways to support these important functions.
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A preliminary clinical trial will test delivering electrical stimulation to the cerebellum in people with spinocerebellar ataxia to see if it improves balance and coordination.
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A study of brain tissue from people with Parkinson’s to understand how protein clumps and nerve cell loss relate to dementia.
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.