Monday, November 3, 2025 11/3/2025

Efficacy and Mechanisms of Virtual Reality Treatment of Phantom Leg Pain

Award Number: R01HD104158
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/10/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2026

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Efficacy and Mechanisms of Virtual Reality Treatment of Phantom Leg Pain - Project Summary Limb loss due to amputation is a common problem, occurring in nearly 2 million people in the US. Approximately 90% of individuals with limb amputation experience the persistent sensation of the missing extremity, known as a phantom limb, and up to 85% experience persistent and debilitating pain in the missing limb, termed phantom limb pain (hereafter PLP). We previously demonstrated that Virtual Reality (VR) with active leg movements and vision of a virtual limb significantly reduce phantom limb pain in subjects with below the knee amputations. The work proposed here has several objectives. In Specific Aim 1 we will randomize 40 subjects with PLP to treatment with our Active VR or a commercially available VR pain treatment (Cool!). In Specific Aim 2 we propose to develop a home intervention for PLP using the intervention (Active VR or Cool!) that in Specific Aim 1 proved to be most efficacious. In specific Aim 3 we will obtain multimodal ultra-high resolution (7T) MRI imaging in subjects with PLP before and after treatment, and normal subjects without amputation; we will also attempt to develop imaging biomarkers that predict efficacy of treatment. Imaging studies will address a number of controversies regarding the neural basis of PLP and explore human neuroplasticity more generally. Finally, in Specific Aim 4 we propose to determine factors that could be used in a clinical biomarker-based algorithm to predict response to home-based VR treatment. Using classification and regression tree (CART) analysis with the data from Aim 2, we will identify behavioral and neuroanatomic factors that predict treatment response. By the end of the grant period, we will have determined the relative efficacy of two VR treatments for PLP, assessed the feasibility and efficacy of a low-cost home-based treatment, determined the neuroanatomic changes associated with treatment response using advanced methods, and explored the behavioral and neuroimaging biomarkers predicting treatment response. These data will provide a critical step toward clinical implementation of a VR treatment protocol for PLP and will advance theoretical understanding of the mechanisms and functional neuroanatomy of PLP.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $523,513 )
2025	2025	JEFFERSON HEALTH CORPORATION	1101 MARKET ST STE 2400	PHILADELPHIA	PA	19107	PHILADELPHIA	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	5	8/12/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$523,513
														Subtotal = $523,513

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $544,681 )
2024	2024	ALBERT EINSTEIN HEALTHCARE NETWORK	5501 OLD YORK RD	PHILADELPHIA	PA	19141	PHILADELPHIA	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	4	8/22/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$544,681
2024	2023	ALBERT EINSTEIN HEALTHCARE NETWORK	5501 OLD YORK RD	PHILADELPHIA	PA	19141	PHILADELPHIA	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	3	2/28/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $544,681

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $549,046 )
2023	2023	ALBERT EINSTEIN HEALTHCARE NETWORK	5501 OLD YORK RD	PHILADELPHIA	PA	19141	PHILADELPHIA	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	3	8/20/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$549,046
2023	2022	ALBERT EINSTEIN HEALTHCARE NETWORK	5501 OLD YORK RD	PHILADELPHIA	PA	19141	PHILADELPHIA	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	2	8/2/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $549,046

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $574,518 )
2022	2022	ALBERT EINSTEIN HEALTHCARE NETWORK	5501 OLD YORK RD	PHILADELPHIA	PA	19141	PHILADELPHIA	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	2	8/30/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$574,518
2022	2021	ALBERT EINSTEIN HEALTHCARE NETWORK	5501 OLD YORK RD	PHILADELPHIA	PA	19141	PHILADELPHIA	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	1	7/6/2022	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $574,518

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $629,451 )
2021	2021	ALBERT EINSTEIN HEALTHCARE NETWORK	5501 OLD YORK RD	PHILADELPHIA	PA	19141	PHILADELPHIA	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	1	9/9/2021	NEW	$629,451
														Subtotal = $629,451

Grand Total All Awards = $2,821,209

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Efficacy and Mechanisms of Virtual Reality Treatment of Phantom Leg Pain

Award Number: R01HD104158

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/10/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2026

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