R01HL150581

Epidural Spinal Cord Stimulation and Respiratory Motor Function After Injury - Project Summary/Abstract

Respiratory motor control deficit is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with spinal cord injury. The long-term goal of this research is to develop a rehabilitation strategy for respiration in patients with spinal cord injury as a standard of care.

Our previous findings demonstrate that respiratory function in patients with chronic spinal cord injury can be improved by using our original inspiratory-expiratory pressure threshold respiratory training protocol. However, the effectiveness of this intervention is limited by the levels of functional capacity preserved below the neurological level of injury.

Our preliminary data obtained for this proposal demonstrate that electrical spinal cord stimulation applied epidurally at the lumbar level in combination with respiratory training can activate and re-organize spinal motor networks for respiration. We propose to investigate respiratory motor control-related responses to epidural spinal cord stimulation alone and in combination with respiratory training.

By characterization of respiratory muscle activation patterns using surface electromyography in association with pulmonary functional and related cardiovascular measures, we expect to determine specific stimulation parameters needed to increase spinal excitability below the level of injury to enhance responses to the input from supraspinal centers that remain after injury and to promote the neural plasticity driven by the respiratory training.

This hypothesis will be tested by pursuing two specific aims:

1) Evaluate the acute effects of epidural spinal cord stimulation on respiratory functional and motor control properties.

2) Evaluate the effectiveness of epidural spinal cord stimulation combined with respiratory training.

University Of Louisville

THE DIVISION OF LUNG DISEASES SUPPORTS RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING ON THE CAUSES, DIAGNOSIS, PREVENTION, AND TREATMENT OF LUNG DISEASES AND SLEEP DISORDERS. RESEARCH IS FUNDED THROUGH INVESTIGATOR-INITIATED AND INSTITUTE-INITIATED GRANT PROGRAMS AND THROUGH CONTRACT PROGRAMS IN AREAS INCLUDING ASTHMA, BRONCHOPULMONARY DYSPLASIA, CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE, CYSTIC FIBROSIS, RESPIRATORY NEUROBIOLOGY, SLEEP AND CIRCADIAN BIOLOGY, SLEEP-DISORDERED BREATHING, CRITICAL CARE AND ACUTE LUNG INJURY, DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY AND PEDIATRIC PULMONARY DISEASES, IMMUNOLOGIC AND FIBROTIC PULMONARY DISEASE, RARE LUNG DISORDERS, PULMONARY VASCULAR DISEASE, AND PULMONARY COMPLICATIONS OF AIDS AND TUBERCULOSIS. THE DIVISION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING THE LATEST RESEARCH DEVELOPMENTS IN THE EXTRAMURAL SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY AS WELL AS IDENTIFYING RESEARCH GAPS AND NEEDS, OBTAINING ADVICE FROM EXPERTS IN THE FIELD, AND IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS NEW OPPORTUNITIES. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM: TO STIMULATE TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION, USE SMALL BUSINESS TO MEET FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT NEEDS, FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP BY SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED PERSONS, AND INCREASE PRIVATE-SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FUNDING. SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM: TO STIMULATE TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION, FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER THROUGH COOPERATIVE R&D BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESSES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, AND INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL R&D.

93.837 - Cardiovascular Diseases Research

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) [HHS - NIH]

Louisville, Kentucky 402023826 United States

Single Zip Code

Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Required) (PA-20-183)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 468% from $657,923 to $3,733,906.