Spinal cord stimulation to restore arm and hand movement after neck-level injury
Spinal Neuromodulation to Promote Physiologic and Molecular Plasticity in theInjured Spinal Cord
This project tests whether electrical stimulation of the neck-level spinal cord can help people with cervical spinal cord injuries regain arm and hand movement.
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 ID | NIH-11187126 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are using a clinically relevant rat model of cervical (neck-level) spinal cord injury and a specially engineered epidural stimulator to study how stimulation affects forelimb function. The team compares different stimulation locations and electrode placements, including ventral spinal surface stimulation, and varies stimulation dosing while animals move freely. They will measure both physiologic changes in motor circuits and molecular signs of plasticity to understand how stimulation drives recovery. The goal is to link specific stimulation approaches to improved arm and hand function and to generate knowledge that could guide future human trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cervical (neck-level) spinal cord injuries who have lost strength or control in their arms or hands would be the most likely candidates for future clinical testing based on this research.
Not a fit: People with lower-back (lumbar) spinal injuries, isolated peripheral nerve damage, or conditions unrelated to cervical spinal cord injury may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new spinal stimulation treatments that improve arm and hand function after cervical spinal cord injury.
How similar studies have performed: Electrical stimulation of the lumbar spinal cord has helped restore standing and walking in prior work, but applying similar stimulation to the cervical spinal cord for upper-limb recovery is newer and less proven.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- Methodist Hospital Research Institute — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Horner, Philip J — Methodist Hospital Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Horner, Philip J
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 below.