Virtual Activities of Living for Occupational Rehabilitation
Funded at Barron Associates, INC. · NIH-11322535 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A home-based, telehealth-enabled virtual reality program helps adults recovering from stroke practice daily activities to improve arm function.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Barron Associates, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,112,943 |
| NIH project number | 5R44HD107718-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11322535 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older with acquired brain injury, particularly stroke survivors needing upper-extremity rehabilitation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to home internet/VR hardware or those with contraindications to VR use may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project brings immersive VR therapy into patients' homes, enabling repeated, realistic practice of daily tasks with remote clinician support. Using untethered VR headsets and built-in motion tracking, participants perform ADLs and IADLs in convincing virtual environments. The goal is to increase therapy dosage, reduce travel, and broaden access to rehabilitation for adults with acquired brain injury, especially stroke survivors. The program emphasizes functional tasks over simple games and aims to be affordable and scalable for home use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could regain upper-extremity function and independence at home with less need for in-clinic visits.
How similar studies have gone: Previous virtual reality rehab studies show promise for improving motor function after stroke, with VALOR seeking to expand real-world, home-based use.
Where this research is happening
-
Barron Associates, INC.
Charlottesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Adams, Richard J. — Barron Associates, INC.
- Study coordinator: Adams, Richard J.
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.