Targeted spinal-cord electrodes to restore feeling after lower-limb amputation
Official title: Electrodes for selective stimulation of the lateral spinal cord to restore sensation after lower-limb amputation
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11314502 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is designing and testing thinner, more flexible spinal-cord electrodes to create focused sensations for people with lower-limb amputations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $583,701 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS121028-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11314502 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with lower-limb (foot or leg) amputations who lack sensory feedback from a prosthetic and who would be medically eligible for an implanted spinal-cord device in future trials.
✕Less likely to help
People without limb loss, those whose spinal cord injury or medical condition prevents safe implantation, or those not eligible for surgery would likely not benefit from this work.
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient, the team is developing new, very thin and flexible electrodes that aim to stimulate side regions of the spinal cord and nearby dorsal roots to recreate sensations in a missing foot or leg. They will test and refine these designs using large-animal nerve recordings, study tissue effects with histology, and run computer simulations to predict which electrode shapes and contact spacings give the most precise sensations. Results from those experiments and models will guide construction of electrodes with smaller contacts and tighter spacing than current devices. The long-term aim is an implantable neurostimulation system that can provide useful, focal sensory feedback for prosthetic users.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let people with leg or foot amputations feel focused sensations from a prosthetic, improving walking stability and reducing fall risk.
How similar studies have gone: Early work—including prior studies from this group and peripheral-nerve stimulation research—has produced sensation with spinal or nerve stimulation, but creating reliably focal sensations with thinner lateral spinal electrodes is still novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fisher, Lee E — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Fisher, Lee E
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving walking for Veterans with non‑traumatic leg amputation
A rehabilitation program aims to help Veterans with non‑traumatic lower‑limb amputation walk more evenly and reduce disability.
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Using electrodes to stimulate the spinal cord for restoring sensation in amputees
This study is working on creating better electrodes that can help people with lower-limb amputations feel sensations in their missing leg, which could make it easier for them to balance and move around safely.
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Improving walking ability for veterans with non-traumatic lower limb amputation
This study is looking to help veterans with non-traumatic lower limb amputations, like those caused by diabetes, walk more evenly and comfortably, so they can enjoy a better quality of life and avoid further health problems.
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Spinal muscle targets to improve mobility after leg amputation
A study with adults who’ve had a lower-leg amputation will look at how spinal muscle weakness and fat in the back muscles relate to mobility, with the aim of guiding rehabilitation choices.
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Bone and skin movement inside prosthetic sockets for below-knee amputees
This project uses moving X-ray and CT-based 3D models to measure how bones, skin, and liners move inside the prosthetic socket of people with below-knee amputations during walking and other activities.
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Surgical strategies to prevent and reduce amputation pain
This project tests how two nerve-sparing techniques can prevent or lessen phantom and residual limb pain in people who have or will have amputations, especially veterans.
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.