Soft, flexible bioelectronic spinal stimulation device with sensing feedback
Official title: Soft, Multifunctional Bioelectronic Interfaces for Transcutaneous Spinal Stimulation with Sensing Feedback
Funded at Texas Engineering Experiment Station · NIH-11346878 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new soft, skin-friendly device would deliver targeted spinal stimulation and real-time sensing to help people with spinal cord injury improve strength and sensation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Engineering Experiment Station NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | September 14, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $628,289 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS149170-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11346878 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with spinal cord injury seeking improved motor function and sensory recovery who can safely undergo noninvasive spinal stimulation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a SCI or those unable to participate in transcutaneous spinal stimulation may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a soft, multifunctional electronic platform that can deliver programmable transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation while collecting multimodal sensing data. By using flexible materials and sensing feedback, the device should reduce skin discomfort and improve current distribution during therapy. The research will address open-loop limitations by integrating sensing to guide stimulation in real time, potentially enhancing neurorehabilitation after spinal cord injury.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the device could make spinal stimulation more comfortable and effective, supporting better rehabilitation outcomes for people with SCI.
How similar studies have gone: Similar approaches in soft bioelectronic interfaces have shown promise, but this project adds integrated sensing for feedback.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Engineering Experiment Station
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tian, Limei — Texas Engineering Experiment Station
- Study coordinator: Tian, Limei
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Robotic dental implants to deliver stem cells
A new wireless robotic implant approach aims to improve bone healing and implant stability by delivering stem cells directly at the implant site for people needing dental implants.
-
Digital Twin for Personalized Spine Fracture Prediction in Osteoporosis
A patient-focused project that uses CT scans and a digital twin model to predict where an osteoporotic spine might fracture during everyday activities.
-
Nanoparticle therapy to reduce alcohol-related liver scarring and cancer risk
This project is developing tiny particles that deliver anti-fibrotic medicine to livers damaged by heavy drinking to help reduce scarring and lower the chance of liver cancer.
-
Smart wrist wearable for continuous cuffless blood pressure and vital signs across diverse skin tones
A wearable wrist device will continuously monitor blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing in adults of diverse skin tones and body types, using non-invasive sensors and smart algorithms.
-
Role of the Nucleus in YAP/TAZ Control in Head and Neck Cancer
Aims to understand how changes in the cell nucleus influence YAP/TAZ pathways that drive head and neck cancer, with the hope of finding biomarkers for treatment response.
-
Targeted nanoparticle therapy for lung fibrosis
A researcher team is testing inhaled nanoparticles that deliver medicine directly to the lungs to slow or stop scarring in people with pulmonary fibrosis.
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.