Personalized closed-loop treatment for freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease
Official title: Personalized closed loop treatment of freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11424676 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new implantable brain device trial aims to reduce freezing of gait in people with Parkinson’s by using on-device brain signals to guide stimulation in real time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $678,390 |
| NIH project number | 1UG3NS150165-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11424676 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with Parkinson’s disease who experience medication-refractory freezing of gait and are eligible for deep brain stimulation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Parkinson’s disease or without medication-refractory freezing of gait may not benefit from this specific intervention.
What this research studies
This project tests a next-generation deep brain stimulation system that can sense brain activity and adjust stimulation automatically to target freezing episodes in daily life. It will start with validating the device and regulatory steps, then move to enrolling about ten people with medication-refractory freezing of gait who will receive bilateral brain leads and cortical sensors connected to the system. Researchers will collect brain data in clinic and at home to identify neural patterns linked to FoG and to refine personalized stimulation strategies. The work emphasizes safety, regulatory readiness, and patient experience as the device learns when and how to intervene for better mobility.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could provide durable, personalized relief from freezing of gait and reduce fall risk for people with Parkinson’s.
How similar studies have gone: Previous DBS approaches helped some patients, but a biomarker-guided, closed-loop system is a newer strategy with potential for greater consistency.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Doris Du — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Wang, Doris Du
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding movement transitions in Parkinson's disease and how cues help freezing of gait
A study with people who have Parkinson's disease will explore why freezing of gait happens during movement changes and how external cues might help keep steps going.
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Feasibility of an AI-Driven Gait Freeze Detector to Trigger Pauses and Cues in Parkinson’s
A small study tests an AI system that detects when a person with Parkinson’s is about to freeze and gives a cue only at that moment to help them keep walking.
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Why walking starts and turns can trigger freezing in Parkinson's
This project looks at brain and balance signals in people with Parkinson's who freeze when they start walking or turn, and how external cues can help.
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Stimulation of the vagus nerve to help gait in Veterans with Parkinson’s disease
A non-invasive, home-based treatment using a handheld device to stimulate the vagus nerve may improve walking and balance for Veterans living with Parkinson’s disease.
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How Parkinson's affects walking and brain signals
This project looks at how Parkinson's and levodopa change brain activity during walking and whether cueing helps people walk more automatically.
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Improving walking in Veterans with Parkinson's disease using vagus nerve stimulation
This study is looking at how a simple, handheld device that gently stimulates a nerve in the neck can help Veterans with Parkinson's disease improve their walking and balance, making it easier for them to manage their daily lives at home.
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.