Personalized brain‑state magnetic stimulation to improve hand recovery after stroke
Official title: Towards real-time personalized brain state-dependent TMS to enhance poststroke hand rehabilitation
Funded at University of Iowa · NIH-11446585 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether timing brief magnetic brain stimulation to each stroke survivor's brain activity can help them regain better use of their affected hand.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $229,318 |
| NIH project number | 7R03HD114188-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11446585 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who have had a stroke and now have weakness or difficulty using one hand, and who can tolerate EEG monitoring and TMS sessions, would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with contraindications to TMS (for example certain metal implants or uncontrolled seizures), those with no detectable residual motor pathway function, or those unable to travel to the study site may not be eligible or likely to benefit.
What this research studies
You would wear an EEG cap so researchers can spot moments when your remaining motor pathways are most responsive. The team will deliver short pulses of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) only during those responsive moments to try to boost signals to your paretic hand. The stimulation is tailored to your individual brain patterns so each pulse aims to be as helpful as possible. This real‑time, personalized approach is paired with hand practice to encourage more natural hand movement recovery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this method could make brain stimulation therapy more effective and help people recover stronger, more functional use of a stroke‑affected hand.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in healthy volunteers showed that delivering TMS during naturally 'strong' corticospinal states can boost motor pathway activity and learning, but applying this real‑time personalized approach to stroke recovery is relatively new and largely untested.
Where this research is happening
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University of Iowa
Iowa City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hussain, Sara J — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Hussain, Sara J
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.