Sponsor or institution
Clinical trials and research at Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago D/b/a Shirley Ryan Abilitylab
As of November 12, 2026, Find a Trial lists 36 NIH-funded research projects at this institution, with $22.3 million in listed awards. Every study is explained in plain English. Data from ClinicalTrials.gov and NIH RePORTER, updated November 12, 2026.
- 36NIH research projects
NIH-funded research (36)
Early-stage science funded by the US National Institutes of Health. Most of these projects don't enroll patients, but they show what is being worked on.
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From Neural Control of Movement to Treatments for Spinal Cord Injury
A patient-focused project aims to translate how brain signals control movement after spinal cord injury into new treatments that improve muscle function and reduce spasticity.
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Muscle wasting in cachexia and how to protect muscle health
This grant explores how muscle fibrosis and inflammation affect cachexia in cancer and other chronic diseases, focusing on a new mouse model to understand why some treatments stop working.
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Neuromusculoskeletal Interface to Control a Bionic Arm
A cutting-edge, socket-free prosthesis that uses bone-anchored implants and muscle signals to control movements, helping people with arm loss regain natural use of their artificial arm.
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Hip-protecting wearable airbags for older stroke survivors
A wearable hip airbag system using a stroke-specific fall-detection algorithm aims to reduce hip injuries for people aged 65+ who have had a stroke.
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From Neural Control of Movement to Treatments for Spinal Cord Injury
Aimed at people with spinal cord injury, this project builds on 15 years of research to strengthen brain and spinal pathways that control movement in order to improve recovery and reduce disability.
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Wireless, dissolving implants to help the diaphragm recover after phrenic nerve injury
A new therapy uses a wireless, dissolvable implant to deliver targeted electrical stimulation to speed diaphragm nerve recovery in people with phrenic neuropathy.
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Rethinking knee prostheses to improve mobility for people with amputations
A new approach to knee-powered artificial legs aims to place the power source above the knee to reduce weight and improve walking for people with transfemoral amputation.
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Powered knee and ankle prosthetics for K2-level transfemoral amputees
A study tests lightweight, fully powered knee and ankle devices to help people with a transfemoral amputation at K2 level move more easily and efficiently.
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Consultative Physical Therapy to Promote Exercise in Parkinson's Disease
A program helps people with Parkinson’s start and keep up more exercise through fewer, regular guidance sessions from physical therapists.
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Restoring muscle and nerve strength and mobility in older adults
This research will see if young muscle-derived stem cells can help older adults regain stronger muscles and healthier nerves.
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Wearable sensors to detect infant motor delays at home
A wearable sensor toolkit will be used at home to spot early motor problems in newborns and track them over the first year of life.
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Easy, open motion-tracking for people with movement problems
This effort will make markerless, open-source motion-tracking tools easier for people with movement problems and their care teams to use so movement can be measured without attaching markers.
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Better control of below-elbow prosthetic hands using cloud tools and AI
This project uses cloud-connected health tools and deep learning to help people with below-elbow amputations control myoelectric prosthetic hands more reliably.
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Predicting Fall Risk for People Using Lower-Limb Prostheses
This project aims to find better ways to predict who might fall among people who use lower-limb prostheses by studying their walking patterns.
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Helping children with cerebral palsy walk better by correcting their crouch gait
This project explores a new way to help children with cerebral palsy improve their walking by gently guiding them to correct their crouch gait.
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Improving walking after stroke with spinal cord stimulation
This project explores how gentle electrical stimulation to the spinal cord, combined with walking practice, can help people walk better after a stroke.
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Understanding how the brain controls movement to improve spinal cord injury treatments
This study is looking at how the brain controls movement in both healthy people and those with spinal cord injuries, with the goal of finding better ways to help improve movement and recovery for patients by using the brain's ability to adapt and heal.
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Improving Walking for K2-Level Amputees with Powered Prosthetics
This project looks at how new lightweight powered knee and ankle prosthetics can help people with above-knee amputations who have limited walking ability move more easily and efficiently.
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Using physical therapy to help people with Parkinson's exercise more effectively
This study is looking at how a special Physical Therapy program can help people with Parkinson's disease get into a regular exercise routine, making it easier for them to stay active and improve their quality of life.
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Using electrical stimulation with implants to help diaphragm recovery after nerve injury
This study is testing a new wireless implant that helps people with Phrenic Neuropathy, a condition that makes it hard to breathe, by sending gentle electrical signals to help their diaphragm heal faster, especially for those recovering from COVID-19.
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Improving muscle and nerve function in older adults
This study is exploring whether using young muscle cells can help older adults regain better movement and muscle health, making everyday activities easier and improving their quality of life.
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Improving walking in stroke patients using brain and spinal stimulation techniques
This study is looking at how two types of gentle stimulation can help improve walking in people who have had a stroke, by encouraging them to use their affected leg more during treadmill exercises.
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Understanding and improving the lives of people with aphasia
This study is looking at how aphasia affects not just talking, but also thinking and socializing in everyday life, and it aims to create a new way to help people with aphasia feel better and more connected by focusing on their overall well-being.
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Bone-anchored bionic arm that connects to bone, muscle, and nerves
A bone‑anchored prosthesis with implanted muscle and nerve interfaces to help people with arm amputations control a bionic arm more naturally.
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Identifying depression in people with aphasia using laboratory tests
This study is looking for better ways to spot depression in people with aphasia, who have trouble with language, by using simple tests that measure things like heart rate and eye movements instead of traditional questionnaires.
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Creating a daily measure of depression for people with aphasia
This study is creating an easy-to-use mobile tool for people with aphasia to share how they're feeling every day, helping to better understand their mood changes and support their mental health after a stroke.
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Improving walking patterns in children with cerebral palsy
This study is looking for better ways to help children with cerebral palsy walk more easily by trying out new treatments that could improve their walking patterns and make their lives better.
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Using oxygen levels to improve movement in people with multiple sclerosis
This study is exploring a new way to help people with multiple sclerosis improve their movement by using short bursts of low oxygen levels to boost brain recovery and nerve function.
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Improving walking ability after stroke using spinal cord stimulation
This study is looking at how a special electrical stimulation on the spine can help people who have had a stroke improve their walking, especially when combined with walking exercises, to see how it affects their movement and mobility.
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Investigating muscle fibrosis in patients with cachexia
This study is looking at how muscle scarring affects treatment responses in patients with severe muscle loss from cancer and other chronic diseases, and it aims to find better ways to help these patients feel stronger and improve their muscle function.
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Exploring how powered prosthetic devices affect walking in K2-level amputees
This study is looking at how lightweight powered knee and ankle prosthetics can help people with a leg amputation walk better, especially when it comes to tasks like climbing stairs and getting up from a chair, and it’s for individuals who currently use basic prosthetics.
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Improving walking for individuals with spinal cord injuries
This study is looking for ways to help people with spinal cord injuries walk better by using sounds and electrical stimulation during treadmill training to wake up certain brain pathways, and it's designed for those who have ongoing challenges with walking.
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Using technology to measure real-world health outcomes
This study is all about using technology to help doctors, engineers, and patients better track health and recovery in everyday life, so they can understand how treatments are working and improve care for everyone.
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Identifying fall risks in users of lower limb prosthetics through gait analysis
This study is looking to find better ways to predict fall risks for people using leg prosthetics by watching how they walk, so we can help keep them safe and prevent falls.
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Improving treatment for people with aphasia by adjusting how often and how intensely they practice speaking.
This study is looking at how different amounts and types of speech therapy can help people with aphasia improve their communication skills, so if you're interested in finding out what works best for recovery, this research might be for you!
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Exploring the effects of brief low oxygen levels on recovery after stroke
This study is looking at a new way to help stroke survivors recover by using short bursts of reduced oxygen levels, which might boost their muscle strength and movement, making rehabilitation more effective.
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