Using electrical stimulation to improve movement after spinal cord injuries
Official title: Spinal Neuromodulation to Promote Physiologic and Molecular Plasticity in theInjured Spinal Cord
Funded at Methodist Hospital Research Institute · NIH-10932286 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring how using electrical stimulation on the neck area of the spinal cord might help people with spinal cord injuries regain movement and function in their arms, with the hope of finding new treatments to improve mobility.
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 start | September 20, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $455,365 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS132123-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10932286 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experienced cervical spinal cord injuries and are seeking innovative therapies to improve their motor function.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with spinal cord injuries located in areas other than the cervical region may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how electrical stimulation of the cervical spinal cord can enhance recovery of movement and function in individuals with spinal cord injuries. By using a specially designed device in animal models, the study aims to identify the best locations and methods for stimulation to activate the neural circuits responsible for upper limb movement. The research focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind this stimulation and its potential to restore motor function. If successful, this approach could lead to new therapies for patients with impaired mobility due to spinal cord injuries.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide new treatment options to help patients regain movement and function in their upper limbs after spinal cord injuries.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown success with electrical stimulation in lumbar spinal cord injuries, but this approach for cervical injuries is relatively novel and underexplored.
Where this research is happening
-
Methodist Hospital Research Institute
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Horner, Philip J — Methodist Hospital Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Horner, Philip J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Investigating how DNA damage and repair mechanisms are altered in ALS and frontotemporal dementia.
This study is looking at how problems with DNA repair might contribute to conditions like ALS and frontotemporal dementia, and it’s testing ways to fix these issues in cells from patients to help develop new treatments.
-
Cefazolin Inoculum Effect and MSSA Bacteremia: A Rapid Test to Guide Therapy
A study to understand how a high bacterial load affects cefazolin treatment for serious Staphylococcus aureus infections and to test a quick lab method that helps doctors choose the best antibiotic.
-
Cefazolin Inoculum Effect: How this test could improve care for MSSA bloodstream infections
This project tests a quick lab test to find a specific cefazolin resistance pattern in MSSA blood infections so doctors can choose safer, more effective treatment.
-
Vascularized niche with local immune protection to transplant insulin-producing cells for Type 1 diabetes
A new approach aims to transplant insulin-producing cells inside a vascularized pocket with local drug delivery to keep them alive and functioning without full-body immune suppression.
-
How brain connections guide visual choices in ADHD
A research study aims to understand how specific brain pathways help people with ADHD make visual decisions, using non-invasive methods in primates.
-
Why some Klebsiella pneumoniae infections resist key carbapenem antibiotics
This project looks at why certain Klebsiella pneumoniae infections resist carbapenem antibiotics and how those infections affect adult patients.
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.