The RESILIENT Brace for teens with scoliosis
Official title: The RESILIENT Brace: a flexible, adjustable, connected bracing system for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Funded at Thinks Works, Pbc D/b/a Thinksworks · NIH-11402856 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new flexible, adjustable scoliosis brace for adolescents to improve comfort, mobility, and real-time feedback to help keep curves from getting worse.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Thinks Works, Pbc D/b/a Thinksworks NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $306,346 |
| NIH project number | 1R43AR087245-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11402856 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adolescents diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis who require brace treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Teens with scoliosis who cannot tolerate any brace or who do not require bracing may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to replace the uncomfortable rigid brace with a low-profile flexible brace designed for teens with idiopathic scoliosis. It uses a flexible column and real-time monitoring to support treatment while allowing movement. The grant will support development, user-centered testing, and small-scale demonstrations in patients to show improved adherence and comfort. If successful, the brace could reduce the need for invasive surgery and improve long-term spine health for adolescents.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, teens may wear their brace more consistently and experience better curve control without sacrificing comfort or activity.
How similar studies have gone: Previous braces have limited comfort and adherence, and this project explores a novel flexible design with real-time monitoring, which is promising but still early.
Where this research is happening
-
Thinks Works, Pbc D/b/a Thinksworks
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Murdock, Ryan C — Thinks Works, Pbc D/b/a Thinksworks
- Study coordinator: Murdock, Ryan C
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Evaluating physiotherapy for treating scoliosis in adolescents
This study is looking at how a special type of exercise called the Schroth method can help teenagers with scoliosis by slowing down or preventing their spinal curve from getting worse, and it's designed just for young people dealing with this condition.
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Developmental mechanisms behind adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
A program of researchers is studying why scoliosis appears in some children and aims to uncover genetic and developmental clues that could lead to better understanding and future treatments.
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Understanding why adolescent scoliosis develops and how to prevent it
A research collaboration is studying why adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) happens and how it progresses, with the goal of finding ways to prevent and better treat it for affected children.
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Understanding the Causes of Adolescent Scoliosis
This program aims to uncover the genetic and developmental reasons behind adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, a common spine condition in children.
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Understanding How Idiopathic Scoliosis Develops
This research aims to uncover the root causes of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, a spinal twisting condition affecting many children.
-
Low oxygen and mitochondria's role in spine development and congenital scoliosis
This research looks at how low oxygen and mitochondrial changes during pregnancy can disrupt early spine formation and lead to congenital scoliosis.
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.