Spinal cord injury affects around 300,000 people in the United States, with roughly 18,000 new injuries each year. Most injuries result from trauma — car crashes, falls, sports injuries. Treatment has long focused on rehabilitation and managing complications, because the damaged spinal cord does not naturally regenerate. Research now aims to restore function through cell therapies, nerve-stimulating devices, and drugs that promote repair.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing stem cell injections to replace damaged nerve cells, epidural stimulators that deliver electrical pulses to awaken dormant circuits below the injury, and drugs that clear debris or encourage nerve fibers to regrow. Researchers are also studying exoskeleton devices for walking, brain-computer interfaces that bypass the injury entirely, and combination approaches that pair cells with rehabilitation or stimulation.
Epidural stimulation
Devices implanted on the spinal cord can restore voluntary movement in some people with complete injuries. Trials are refining the stimulation patterns and identifying who benefits most.
Stem cell therapies
Studies are injecting different cell types — neural stem cells, mesenchymal cells, oligodendrocyte precursors — into or near the injury site. Early results show safety, and some suggest modest functional gains.
Brain-computer interfaces
Implanted electrodes decode brain signals and send commands to computers or exoskeletons, allowing paralyzed individuals to move a cursor, control a robotic arm, or trigger muscle stimulation in their own limbs.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on injury level (cervical, thoracic, lumbar), completeness of injury, time since injury, and whether the trial targets acute or chronic phases.
What types of trials are currently open
- Cell therapy trials — Testing stem cells or other cell types injected into the spinal cord to replace lost neurons or support repair.
- Stimulation trials — Studies of epidural or transcutaneous stimulators that deliver electrical pulses to reactivate circuits below the injury.
- Drug trials — Testing medications that remove scar tissue, promote nerve growth, or reduce inflammation in the acute or chronic phase after injury.
- Device trials — Studies of exoskeletons, brain-computer interfaces, or functional electrical stimulation systems that restore movement or independence.
- Rehabilitation trials — Testing new physical therapy approaches, often combined with stimulation or robotics, to maximize recovery.
Recently added Spinal Cord Injury trials
An Early Feasibility Study of a Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface for Neural Control of External Devices in Spinal Cord Injury, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and Chronic Ischemic Stroke
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and preliminary effectiveness of the N1 System, a fully implanted brain-computer interface placed in the motor cortex with the R1 Robot. The study builds on knowledge gained in a previous clinical investigation of this system. It enrolls adults with severe upper-limb impairment from spinal cord injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or chronic ischemic stroke. Participants use neural signals recorded by the N1 Implant to control a computer cursor or virtual keyboard. The study will describe serious adverse device effects and will assess digital daily activities, computer-control performance, independent use of the system, and participant-, clinician-, and caregiver-reported outcomes. Up to 10 participants will be enrolled at up to five sites in the United States and followed for about 2 years after implantation, or about 3 years if they choose extended follow-up. There is no comparison group; each participant's results are compared with their own baseline.
Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation Combined With 4-Aminopyridine and Intensive Rehabilitation in SCI
The purpose of this prospective, single-arm pilot feasibility study is to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and preliminary functional outcomes of combining transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (TSS), dalfampridine (4-aminopyridine), and intensive rehabilitation in adults with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). The primary research question is whether this combined treatment approach can be safely and feasibly implemented in an outpatient neurorehabilitation setting. The study will also explore whether participants demonstrate improvements in upper and lower extremity motor function, muscle strength, walking ability, balance, and functional mobility following the intervention. Eight adults with chronic spinal cord injury will participate in a 12-week rehabilitation program at TRYAbility NeuroRecovery Center. Participants will attend approximately three treatment sessions per week, consisting of 60 minutes of physical therapy and 60 minutes of occupational therapy combined with noninvasive transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation using the ANEUVO ExaStim Stimulation System. All participants will be receiving dalfampridine prescribed by their treating physicians as part of routine medical care. The research team will not prescribe, administer, or adjust medication dosages. The primary outcomes will focus on participant recruitment, treatment attendance, intervention tolerability, and adverse events to assess the feasibility and safety of the combined approach. Secondary exploratory outcomes will examine changes in upper extremity motor function, hand dexterity, walking speed, walking endurance, balance, and functional mobility. Participants will undergo standardized clinical assessments at baseline, week 6, and week 12 to evaluate changes in functional performance over time. The findings will provide preliminary evidence regarding the feasibility, safety, and potential functional benefits of integrating spinal cord stimulation, physician-prescribed dalfampridine, and intensive rehabilitation. Results will help inform the design of larger controlled clinical trials investigating combined treatment approaches for motor recovery following chronic spinal cord injury.
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