Vagus nerve stimulation to improve bladder control after spinal cord injury
Targeted Neuroplasticity via vagus nerve stimulation to improve urinary dysfunction after spinal cord injury
This project uses brief pulses of vagus nerve stimulation during bladder training to help people with spinal cord injury regain better bladder control.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Case Western Reserve University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10934357 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, the team will pair timed vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) with bladder-retraining activities to encourage the nervous system to relearn bladder control. Some work will be done in animals and some in people at the same time so promising approaches can move quickly into human care. The VNS pulses are delivered at specific moments of bladder activity to promote neuroplastic changes that support recovery. The investigators report preliminary positive results supporting this approach and aim to refine and test it further.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with incomplete spinal cord injury who have persistent bladder control problems and are willing to undergo device-guided neuromodulation plus structured bladder rehabilitation.
Not a fit: People with complete spinal cord injury lacking preserved bladder pathways, those with contraindications to VNS (for example certain cardiac conditions or existing implanted stimulators), or those unwilling to follow the rehab protocol may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce dependence on catheterization, lower urinary tract infections, protect kidney health, and improve quality of life for people with SCI-related urinary dysfunction.
How similar studies have performed: Vagus nerve stimulation paired with rehabilitation has shown benefit for motor and sensory recovery in other neurological injuries, but applying it specifically to bladder function after SCI is novel with only preliminary supporting data.
Where this research is happening
Cleveland, United States
- Case Western Reserve University — Cleveland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hernandez-Reynoso, Ana — Case Western Reserve University
- Study coordinator: Hernandez-Reynoso, Ana
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 below.