Research Participation
The BCI Society aims to assist BCI researchers in the recruitment of study participants with impairment, by offering the possibility to post recruitment information on the BCI Society website. Only studies that have ethics / IRB approval in place, and which are registered on clinicaltrials.gov or a similar platform, will be accepted for posting recruitment information. Please also note your ethics committee may require approval of the exact text you post on the BCI Society website.
If you are interested, please contact the Communications committee via communications@bcisociety.org and provide the following information in English and, if applicable, in the language used at the study site:
- Study name / acronym
- Contact person
- Institute and country
- Study start and end date
- Ethics/IRB approval number
- Study objective (2-3 sentences, directed at study population audience)
- Brief summary of main inclusion / exclusion criteria
- Link to study website (if available)
- Link to clinicaltrials.gov or similar platform
Announcements for Clinical Trials
A Sensorimotor Microelectrode Brain-Machine Interface
May 10, 2014 / Dec 31, 2025+
Contact:
Debbie Harrington, 412-383-1355
University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Ethics/IRB approval number: STUDY19100269
Objective:
Brain-machine interface (BMI) technology uses a person’s healthy movement-related brain signals to direct movement of robotic assistive technology or a computer cursor. Brain signals are acquired by tiny devices implanted on the brain, decoded by computers, and used to move a robotic prosthetic arm for functional assistance. Participation is for 1-10 years and includes in person testing approximately 3 times per week for 4 hours/day. Two other individuals are implanted currently in Pittsburgh. You may talk with them.
Summary of Main Inclusion / Exclusion Criteria:
This research study is for individuals with limited use of their hands due to spinal cord injury, spinal stroke, or brainstem stroke. Must be between age 22-70. Must communicate in English. Must reside in Pittsburgh during the study. Must have a reliable caregiver. Injury must be more than 1 year ago. Must not have visual impairment. Must not have another disease or disorder that would affect participation. Must be able to have a 3T MRI. Must not have an implantable generator, such as a pacemaker, stimulator, or cochlear implant. Must not have pressure sores that would be made worse by 1-2 days of bed rest. Other criteria apply. Contact study person for info.
Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) Implant for Severe Communication Disability / Summit Study
August 31st, 2020 – July 31st, 2023 (participation lasts for a minimum of 52 weeks)
Contact:
Nathan Crone, M.D. (+1-410-955-6772)
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutes, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Ethics/IRB approval number: IRB00217299
Objective:
The Summit Study will test a specific, fully-implanted brain-computer interface (BCI), the Medtronic Summit System, for patients with chronic locked-in syndrome, a disorder in which communication is impaired by paralysis. The goal of the study is to assess this particular BCI’s ability to safely assist with communication. Participants must undergo surgery to implant electrodes onto the surface of the brain and a wireless transmitter under the skin of the chest. Participants will train and test (for up to 4 hours each day, two days per week for a full year) with the BCI to control assistive typing technology and trigger a care-giver calling alert at their own home.
Summary of Main Inclusion / Exclusion Criteria:
Participants should be between the ages of 22 and 75. They should be previously diagnosed with chronic locked-in syndrome caused either permanent brainstem damage (via stroke or trauma) or by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Participants should be able to communicate reliably, but only with caregiver assistance. Participants must be willing to have brain surgery, must be cleared by their doctor for participation, and must be able to travel to The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland several times a week.
Investigation on the Cortical Communication (CortiCom) System / CortiCom Study
October 1st, 2021 – August 31st, 2025 (participation lasts for a minimum of 26 weeks)
Contact:
Nathan Crone, M.D. (+1-410-955-6772)
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutes, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Ethics/IRB approval number: IRB00167247
Objective:
The CortiCom Study will test a transcutaneous brain-computer interface, the Cortical Communication (CortiCom) System, for patients with chronic locked-in syndrome, a disorder in which communication is impaired by paralysis. The goal of the study is to assess this particular BCI’s ability to safely assist with communication. Participants must undergo surgery to implant electrodes onto the surface of the brain , which will be connected to a transcutaneous Blackrock Microsystems patient pedestal. Participants will train and test (for up to 4 hours each day, two days per week for 6 months) with the BCI to control assistive typing technology. Participants must be able to travel to the Johns Hopkins Hospital to train and test with the BCI several times a week.
Summary of Main Inclusion / Exclusion Criteria:
Participants should be between the ages of 22 and 70. They should be affected by significant movement impairment due to spinal cord injury, stroke or neuromuscular disease, including locked-in syndrome. Participants must be willing to have brain surgery, must be cleared by their doctor for participation, and must be able to travel to The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland several times a week.