Spinal reflex training to improve walking after incomplete spinal cord injury
Official title: Spinal Reflex Conditioning System for Enhancing Motor Function Recovery After Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
Funded at Biocircuit Technologies, INC. · NIH-11143002 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A wearable hardware/software system that helps people with incomplete spinal cord injuries retrain spinal reflexes to reduce spasticity and improve walking speed.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Biocircuit Technologies, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2020 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $954,674 |
| NIH project number | 5U44NS114420-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11143002 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with incomplete spinal cord injury who have abnormal gait or spasticity and who can attend therapy sessions and follow instructions.
✕Less likely to help
People with complete spinal cord injuries, unstable medical conditions, or severe cognitive impairment may not benefit or qualify.
What this research studies
You would use an easy-to-learn device and software guided by a therapist to change how your spinal reflexes are controlled by the brain. The therapy uses noninvasive sensors and operant conditioning exercises so you practice producing more helpful reflex responses. Over time this retraining can reduce spasticity, lessen limping, and increase walking speed that you notice in daily life. The project is turning a lab method into a clinic-ready system therapists can operate without extensive training.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reduce spasticity and improve walking ability and everyday function for people with incomplete spinal cord injury.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work by the sponsoring teams showed spinal reflex conditioning can reduce spasticity and improve walking in people with SCI, and this project aims to make that approach practical in clinics.
Where this research is happening
-
Biocircuit Technologies, INC.
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Clements, Isaac Perry — Biocircuit Technologies, INC.
- Study coordinator: Clements, Isaac Perry
Related research
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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.