Clinical Research Directory

MEP Up-conditioning to Target Corticospinal Plasticity

Individuals with chronic cervical spinal cord injury will complete a 10-week training protocol where participants receive non-invasive brain stimulation and feedback on the size of the corresponding muscle response (wrist extensor). Investigators will assess the impact of the brain stimulation training on 1) the brain-to-spinal cord-to-muscle connection and 2) motor functions of the arm and hand. Also, brain and spine magnetic resonance imaging will be collected before and after the training. The imaging measurements will tell investigators about how spinal damage, brain function, and brain structure relate to motor presentation and the response to the training.

Connect-One: Early Feasibility Study of Connexus® Brain-Computer Interface (BCI)

The Connect-One Study is an early feasibility study to obtain preliminary device safety information for the Connexus Brain-Computer Interface (BCI). The Connexus BCI is intended to be used as: (1) an assistive communication device to decode imagined language correlates and speech for patients with impaired communication as a result of severe loss of voluntary motor control; and (2) to provide control of computer devices for individuals with severe loss of voluntary motor control of the upper extremity.

Precise Robotically IMplanted Brain-Computer InterfacE

The PRIME Study is a first-in-human early feasibility study to evaluate the initial clinical safety and device functionality of the Neuralink N1 Implant and R1 Robot device designs in participants with tetraparesis or tetraplegia. The N1 Implant is a skull-mounted, wireless, rechargeable implant connected to electrode threads that are implanted in the brain by the R1 Robot, a robotic electrode thread inserter.

Targeting Cervical Epidural Spinal Cord Stimulation for Functional Recovery

The proposed study seeks to understand how the cervical spinal cord should be stimulated after injury through short-term physiology experiments that will inform a preclinical efficacy trial. The purpose of this study is to determine which cervical levels epidural electrical stimulation (EES) should target to recruit arm and hand muscles effectively and selectively in spinal cord injury (SCI).

VOICE: An Early Feasibility Study of a Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface for Communication Restoration

The VOICE Study is an early feasibility study to evaluate the initial clinical safety and efficacy of the N1 and R1 Systems device design concept in providing an ability to communicate. The Neuralink N1 Implant is intended to provide the ability to communicate to individuals with severe and irreversible speech production impairment. It is indicated for adults with neurological conditions of the central speech pathways who have impaired upper limb function. The N1 Implant is a skull-mounted, wireless, rechargeable implant connected to electrode threads that are implanted in the brain by the R1 Robot, a robotic electrode thread inserter.

GB-PRIME: An Early Feasibility Study of a Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface for the Control of External Devices

The GB-PRIME Study is an early feasibility study designed to assess the clinical safety and functionality of the Neuralink N1 Implant and R1 Robot. This study involves participants who have tetraparesis, tetraplegia, or a diagnosis that may lead to these conditions. The N1 Implant is a wireless, rechargeable device mounted on the skull, connected to electrode threads that are inserted into the brain by the R1 Robot, which is a robotic device specifically designed for this procedure.

Transspinal Stimulation With and Without Blood Flow Restricted Exercise Via Telehealth in Persons With Tetraplegia

The purpose of the current study is to evaluate whether a home-based, telehealth-supported intervention combining Blood Flow Restricted Exercise (BES) and Transspinal Stimulation (TS) will improve motor and functional abilities greater than BES+sham TS in persons with chronic, incomplete tetraplegia.

Virtual Peer Coaching in Manual Wheelchair Skills

The objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness of remote manual wheelchair skills training program. First, peer coaches will be enrolled and trained. Then, trainees will be enrolled into one of three interventions: intervention with remote feedback (Group 1), wait list control group (Group 2), and structured self-study (Group 3).

Control of Assistive Devices Via Brain-Computer Interface Technology

The CONVOY Study is a clinical trial designed to explore the feasibility of participants from the PRIME Study (NCT06429735) using the N1 Implant to control various assistive devices. The main goal is to determine whether participants can successfully modulate their brain activity to control devices, such as an Assistive Robotic Arm (ARA). This study will assess the effectiveness, consistency, and safety of neural control using the ARA and other assistive devices.

UAE-PRIME: A Feasibility Study of a Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface for the Control of External Devices

The UAE-PRIME Study is a feasibility study designed to assess the initial clinical safety and functionality of the Neuralink N1 Implant and R1 Robot. This study involves participants who have tetraparesis, tetraplegia, or a diagnosis that may lead to these conditions. The N1 Implant is a wireless, rechargeable device mounted on the skull, connected to electrode threads that are inserted into the brain by the R1 Robot, which is a robotic device specifically designed for this procedure.

CAN-PRIME: Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface for the Control of External Devices

The CAN-PRIME Study is to test the safety and functionality of Neuralink's N1 Implant and R1 Robot in people who have difficulty moving their arms and legs (tetraparesis or tetraplegia). The N1 Implant is a small, wireless device placed in the skull. It connects to tiny threads inserted into the brain by the R1 Robot, which is a machine designed to carefully place these threads. This study will help researchers learn how well the implant and robot work and if they are safe for use.

Spinal Cord Associative Plasticity Study

Spinal cord associative plasticity (SCAP) is a combined cortical and spinal electrical stimulation technique developed to induce recovery of arm and hand function in spinal cord injury. The proposed study will advance understanding of SCAP, which is critical to its effective translation to human therapy. The purpose of the study is to: 1. Determine whether signaling through the spinal cord to the muscles can be strengthened by electrical stimulation. 2. Improve our understanding of the spinal cord and how it produces movement. 3. Determine whether spinal surgery to relieve pressure on the spinal cord can improve its function. Aim 1 is designed to advance mechanistic understanding of spinal cord associative plasticity (SCAP). Aim 2 will determine whether SCAP increases spinal cord excitability after the period of repetitive pairing. In rats, SCAP augments muscle activation for hours after just 5 minutes of paired stimuli. Whereas Aims 1 and 2 focused on the effects of paired stimulation in the context of uninjured spinal cord, Aim 3 assesses whether paired stimulation can be effective across injured cord segments. Aim 3 will incorporate the experiments from Aim 1 and 2 but in people with SCI, either traumatic or pre-operative patients with myelopathy in non-invasive experiments, or targeting myelopathic segments in intraoperative segments.

NIBS Therapy in Subacute Spinal Cord Injury

No accepted clinical therapies exist for repair of motor pathways following spinal cord injury (SCI) in humans, leaving permanent disability and devastating personal and socioeconomic cost. A robust neural repair strategy has been demonstrated in preclinical studies, that is ready for translation to recovery of hand and arm function in human SCI, comprising daily transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment at the inpatient rehabilitation facility. This study will establish clinical effect size of the intervention, as well as safety and feasibility necessary for a subsequent controlled efficacy trial and inform preclinical studies for dosing optimization.

Nerve Transfers Plus Electrical Stimulation to Improve Hand Function in Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

The goal of this prospective observational study is to determine whether brief intraoperative electrical stimulation and temporary postoperative electrical stimulation improve motor and/or pain outcomes for patients with cervical spinal cord injury undergoing standard of care nerve transfer surgery to improve hand function. The main hypotheses include: Hypothesis #1: Brief intraoperative electrical stimulation of the donor nerves will result in improved motor outcomes (hand function) compared to standard nerve transfer surgery in patients with cervical spinal cord injuries. Hypothesis #2: Placement of a temporary peripheral nerve stimulator for 60 days of postoperative electrical stimulation will result in improved pain outcomes compared to standard nerve transfer surgery in patients with cervical spinal cord injuries. Researchers will prospectively enroll patients with cervical spinal cord injury and no hand function who will undergo standard of care nerve transfer surgery combined with standard of care brief intraoperative electrical stimulation and temporary postoperative electrical stimulation. Motor and pain outcomes will be compared to a retrospective group of patients who underwent nerve transfer surgery without intraoperative or postoperative electrical stimulation. Participants will receive standard medical care (nothing experimental) as part of this study. Participants will: * Have a preoperative assessment including physical examination, electrodiagnostic studies, functional electrical stimulation, and will complete questionnaires assessing function and quality of life * Agree upon a surgical plan, including the specific nerve transfers to be performed and whether to include brief intraoperative electrical stimulation and/or temporary postoperative electrical stimulation before being considered for enrollment in the study * Will undergo standard of care nerve transfer surgery, with at least one nerve transfer targeting improvement in hand function and will receive brief intraoperative electrical stimulation of the donor nerves and placement of a temporary peripheral nerve stimulator * Will follow-up with the surgeon 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after the surgery * Will have a physical examination and will complete questionnaires at the postoperative visits * Will participate in hand therapy following the operation * Will be eligible for placement of a permanent peripheral nerve stimulator, depending on response to the temporary peripheral nerve stimulator.