Restoring speech with a brain implant for stroke-related aphasia
Official title: Restoring Speech with an Intracortical Neuroprosthesis for Post-Stroke Agrammatic Aphasia
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11397115 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at UC Davis aims to help people who have language trouble after a stroke by using a tiny brain implant to turn brain signals into spoken words.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | September 2, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $529,407 |
| NIH project number | 1DP2DC024816-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397115 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with post-stroke agrammatic aphasia who are enrolled in the BrainGate2 trial and meet study criteria for implantation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with aphasia due to causes other than stroke, or those not eligible for intracortical implants, may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will implant microelectrode sensors in two stroke survivors with agrammatic aphasia to capture brain signals related to speech. They will use advanced computer models to translate those signals into phonemes and words in real time, helping patients communicate more naturally. The system will also function as a rehabilitation tool, providing timed auditory cues to support learning and regain independent speech through closed-loop feedback. The project builds on prior work showing similar approaches can restore communication in other conditions and seeks to benchmark performance against each participant’s baseline abilities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this technology could enable more fluent communication for stroke survivors with aphasia and support ongoing speech rehabilitation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work restoring communication in ALS-related dysarthria informs this approach, suggesting potential feasibility for speech restoration.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brandman, David M. — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Brandman, David M.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Neural signals linked to recovery from aphasia after stroke
This grant follows people who recently had a stroke and aphasia to understand why some recover language abilities better than others.
-
Computational modeling of language in bilingual adults after stroke and with neurodegenerative conditions
A computer-based study will model how bilingual Spanish-English speakers experience language changes after stroke and with neurodegenerative disorders, to inform better care for affected patients.
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Predicting language recovery after stroke using AI
A new AI-based project uses brain scans and personal data to forecast how aphasia may progress after a stroke, with the goal of guiding personalized treatment.
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Neural signals of getting speech back after stroke
This grant studies how the brain changes as people recover speech after a stroke, to help predict and improve language recovery.
-
How the brain recovers language after a stroke
This research follows people with aphasia after stroke to find brain and behavior signs that predict who will regain speech and language.
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Electrical Field Guided TMS and Constraint Induced Language Therapy for Subacute Post-Stroke Aphasia
This study tests a targeted brain stimulation plus speech therapy approach to help people with language loss after a recent stroke.
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.