SHAPE: a wearable shoulder-and-hand device to help after stroke
Official title: Development and initial testing of a shoulder-hand active-passive exoskeleton (SHAPE) to assist individuals with chronic upper-extremity impairments after stroke.
Funded at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center · NIH-11518050 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will build and try a wearable device that supports the shoulder and helps move the hand for people with long-standing arm problems after a stroke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Jesse Brown VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5IK1RX004286-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11518050 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are people living with chronic upper-extremity weakness or loss of shoulder/hand function after a stroke who can attend clinic visits and tolerate device fitting and testing.
✕Less likely to help
People with very recent (acute) strokes, severe joint contractures or fixed deformities, unstable medical conditions, or major cognitive impairment may not benefit or be eligible.
What this research studies
You would be offered a wearable system called SHAPE that combines a passive shoulder support with an active, motorized hand to help lift and use your arm after stroke. The team will apply machine-learning control methods so the device can respond more naturally to your intended movements and will adjust the system during clinic visits. Early work will focus on fitting, safety, comfort, and whether the device helps with reaching, grasping, and everyday activities. If initial testing goes well, the investigators plan larger clinical trials to study real-world benefits for Veterans and other patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, SHAPE could make reaching, grasping, and routine daily tasks easier for people with chronic arm weakness after stroke.
How similar studies have gone: Related wearable shoulder supports and hand exoskeletons have shown promising early results for improving reach and function, but benefits have been mixed and larger trials are still needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Jesse Brown VA Medical Center
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kopke, Joseph Victor — Jesse Brown VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Kopke, Joseph Victor
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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.