Spinal cord electrical stimulation to boost upper-body function after injury
Official title: Spinal Neuromodulation to Promote Physiologic and Molecular Plasticity in theInjured Spinal Cord
Funded at Methodist Hospital Research Institute · NIH-11387847 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A doctor-research team is testing a new epidural stimulation approach to help people with cervical spinal cord injuries regain arm and hand function.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Methodist Hospital Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $445,467 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS132123-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11387847 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are individuals with cervical spinal cord injury or similar upper-limb motor impairment who could benefit from neuromodulation-based therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose injury is too severe or whose conditions do not respond to neuromodulation may see limited or no benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will use a rat model of cervical spinal cord injury with a self-contained epidural stimulation device to study how different electrode placements and stimulation patterns affect upper limb movement. They aim to identify the best stimulation site, dosing, and mechanisms that improve forelimb control, translating findings toward better therapies for people with neck injuries. The study emphasizes understanding why and how cervical stimulation works to restore sensorimotor function after injury. This work builds on prior success with lumbar stimulation and applies it to the upper body to address a critical gap in recovery options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could lead to new, targeted therapies to improve arm and hand function after cervical spinal cord injury.
How similar studies have gone: Previous lumbar spine stimulation work shows promise; cervical upper-limb stimulation is less explored but biologically plausible based on early data.
Where this research is happening
-
Methodist Hospital Research Institute
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Horner, Philip J — Methodist Hospital Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Horner, Philip J
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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.