Predicting arm and hand recovery soon after a stroke

Validation of Early Prognostic Data for Recovery Outcomes after Stroke for Future, Higher Yield Trials (VERIFY)

NIH-funded research Yale University · NIH-11505249

Using brain scans and a safe nerve-stimulation test to predict how well people will recover arm and hand movement three months after an ischemic stroke.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionYale University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New Haven, United States)
Project IDNIH-11505249 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If I join this research, doctors will collect early clinical information, perform MRI scans, and use a harmless transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) test to check muscle responses. They will combine those measures with an existing prediction tool (PREP-2) and follow my arm and hand recovery for 90 days. The goal is to group patients by biological markers so future rehab trials can be better targeted. This work is being done across multiple hospital sites to make the results reliable for many patients.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults who recently had an ischemic stroke with arm or hand weakness and who can have MRI and a brief TMS test are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People with very old, stable strokes, those who cannot undergo MRI or TMS, or those without arm/hand impairment are unlikely to gain direct benefit from joining.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors predict who is likely to regain arm and hand movement and tailor rehabilitation sooner.

How similar studies have performed: Single-center work and the PREP-2 tool have shown promise using TMS and MRI markers, but this project aims to confirm those findings across multiple sites.

Where this research is happening

New Haven, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.