tDCS plus speech therapy to improve language in people with aphasia
Official title: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to Treat Aphasia: A Superiority Study
Funded at University of South Carolina at Columbia · NIH-11400528 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large, patient-facing study will test whether adding transcranial direct current stimulation to speech therapy helps people with aphasia after a stroke communicate better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,164,376 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DC022447-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11400528 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with chronic aphasia following a stroke who are eligible for speech therapy and can participate in brain stimulation sessions.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without aphasia or with contraindications to brain stimulation may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests if using a gentle brain stimulation technique alongside standard speech therapy can provide better language outcomes for people living with aphasia after stroke. It builds on prior small studies by aiming for high-quality evidence that can inform clinical use. If successful, this approach could become an accessible option to boost recovery and daily communication for patients and families. The study is led by researchers at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, and will enroll adults with post-stroke aphasia across participating sites.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with aphasia may experience improved language abilities and communication in daily life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous small studies suggested potential benefits, but this trial aims to provide definitive, high-quality evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Carolina at Columbia
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bonilha, Leonardo F — University of South Carolina at Columbia
- Study coordinator: Bonilha, Leonardo F
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Communication Bridge: Improving language therapy for people with primary progressive aphasia
A proven language-therapy program called Communication Bridge helps people with primary progressive aphasia improve and maintain how they communicate with others.
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Neural signals linked to recovery from aphasia after stroke
This grant follows people who recently had a stroke and aphasia to understand why some recover language abilities better than others.
-
Bilingualism and language resilience in Hispanic people with primary progressive aphasia
Researchers compare different bilingual experiences to see how they relate to language decline and thinking skills in Hispanic adults with primary progressive aphasia.
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Functional reorganization of language and general brain networks in aphasia
This project studies how language areas and general brain networks work together to help people recover language after a stroke, by looking at brain activity and responses to language tasks.
-
eSANA: revealing and improving AAC use after stroke for aphasia
A project to explore how people with aphasia after a stroke can best use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) during early rehabilitation.
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Cortical Organization of Syntax in Aphasia
A patient-facing study to understand how brain injury affects sentence structure and help people with aphasia communicate more clearly.
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.