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Impact of Stroke on Peripheral Nerve Signaling

Award Number: R21HD117190
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: 08/15/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2028

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Impact of Stroke on Peripheral Nerve Signaling - Project Summary. Unimpaired touch, or tactile, perception is critical for performing physical activities, such as accurately sensing and, accordingly, modifying finger pressure to drink from a cup. Individuals with a brain injury, such as a stroke, commonly experience tactile impairments that affect their ability to perceive objects through touch. The prevailing view of these tactile impairments post brain injury emphasizes their localization to specific brain areas (e.g., somatosensory cortices, thalamus). Yet, a growing body of literature suggests that tactile signaling along the peripheral nerve should not be overlooked. Lesions in the brain have been shown to trigger dysfunction in peripheral nerves, including peripheral motor neurons post stroke. Despite this emerging research, a significant gap remains in our understanding whether brain lesions have comparable effects on peripheral nerves responsible for tactile perception. In this proposal, we will conduct a longitudinal study to comprehensively measure changes in peripheral nerve signaling at both arms following a stroke. We will apply electrotactile stimuli along the median, radial, and ulnar nerves and measure the peripheral nerve responses using surface electrodes at 1, 2, 4, and 6 months post stroke. We will recruit a diverse sample of 20 individuals with stroke to complete this study. The insights gained will reveal the nerve's capacity to transmit signals, as well as the magnitude and speed of signal transmission. We hypothesize that the stroke will disrupt peripheral nerve tactile signaling similarly to motor nerve signaling (Aim 1a), with the extent of the disruption depending on the extent of the sensorimotor impairments from the stroke (Aim 1b). This research approach, which considers dysfunction along the peripheral nerve in addition to the brain, could be critical for improving how impairments are assessed, enhancing predictions of movement recovery, and guiding pharmacological and/or rehabilitative treatments for millions of individuals living with stroke.


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: 2026 ( Subtotal = $454,240 )
2026	2026	VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE & STATE UNIVERSITY	300 TURNER ST NW	BLACKSBURG	VA	24060	MONTGOMERY	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	1	8/12/2026	NEW	$454,240
														Subtotal = $454,240

Grand Total All Awards = $454,240

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Impact of Stroke on Peripheral Nerve Signaling

Award Number: R21HD117190

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: 08/15/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2028

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