Shifting sensory signals between brain halves in chronic stroke
Official title: Shift from Unilateral to Bilateral Sensory-Motor Connectivity in Chronic Hemiparetic Stroke
Funded at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · NIH-11385291 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in people with chronic stroke will look at how sensory feedback moves between brain sides and how that relates to abnormal arm movements.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $311,402 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD109157-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11385291 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with chronic hemiparetic stroke who experience flexion synergy and upper-limb motor impairments.
✕Less likely to help
People without a history of stroke or those without upper-limb motor impairment may not benefit from this study.
What this research studies
This project investigates why people who have had a stroke develop abnormal arm movements and limited hand function. Researchers will study how sensory information from the affected arm is processed in the brain, particularly whether it is re-routed to the opposite hemisphere and how that might drive new movement patterns. The team will combine brain imaging and sensory testing to link these brain changes with motor impairment. The aim is to identify mechanisms that could guide therapies to improve arm control and hand opening after stroke.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to new strategies to restore more natural arm movement and reduce spasticity after stroke.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked abnormal movement patterns to altered sensory processing, but this study explores a novel hemispheric sensory shift in stroke.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Yuan — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Yang, Yuan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Stroke prevention with hydroxyurea for children with sickle cell anemia in Nigeria
A multinational, patient-facing study tests whether hydroxyurea can safely prevent first strokes in Nigerian children with sickle cell anemia.
-
Music-powered tools to boost blood pressure and stroke prevention for Nigerian youth and their older caregivers
This project uses popular music to help Nigerian youths and their older family members start and stick to blood pressure and stroke prevention habits.
-
Determinants of Post-Stroke Cognitive Outcomes and Vascular Effects on Recovery
A large, multi-site effort aims to understand why some stroke survivors develop long-term cognitive problems and dementia, and how vascular health and pre-existing brain changes influence recovery.
-
LRP1 controls NSC movement and stroke recovery
This NIH grant studies how a brain receptor called LRP1 helps neural stem cells move to stroke injuries and support recovery in adults.
-
BBB Dysfunction after Stroke and Risk for Dementia
A study at Stanford will look at whether inflammation after a stroke leads to leaky blood vessels and later dementia, by following stroke survivors and comparing them with people without stroke.
-
Improving blood flow after stroke by breaking down NETs
Aims to see if breaking down neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) after an ischemic stroke can improve blood flow and reduce brain injury in patients.
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.