Precision brain stimulation to restore thinking and memory across multiple conditions
Official title: Restoring Cognitive Function through Precision Neurostimulation: A Disease-Agnostic Approach Based on Convergent Hippocampal Dynamics.
Funded at Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware · NIH-11416621 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A wide-range study uses targeted brain stimulation to improve memory and thinking in models of Alzheimer’s, autism, and related disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Wilmington, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $526,638 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG100834-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11416621 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with cognitive impairments related to Alzheimer’s disease or related neurodevelopmental or neurodegenerative conditions who may participate in future human trials.
✕Less likely to help
If cognitive impairment does not arise from the targeted hippocampal dynamics or if the stimulation approach is not effective, patients may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to reset abnormal activity patterns in the hippocampus to improve cognitive function across several brain disorders. Researchers will study six models of three common neurological conditions to identify shared brain activity disruptions and test whether stimulation can improve both brain dynamics and performance on cognitive tasks. They will also run computer simulations to explore many stimulation settings and disease processes beyond what is possible in animals or humans alone. The combined in-vivo and in-silico approach is designed to speed up translation to human trials. If successful, this work could open new avenues for treating memory and thinking problems that affect millions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience better memory and thinking with fewer cognitive symptoms.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies suggest that modulating brain activity can influence cognition, but this approach across multiple disorders is novel and exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware
Wilmington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Scott, Rodney Craig — Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware
- Study coordinator: Scott, Rodney Craig
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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.