Plain-English translation of NCT03698149 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
Read our ALS research guide →This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.
This study is testing a brain-computer interface called ECoG (electrocorticography) that uses tiny electrodes placed directly on the brain's surface to read your brain signals. The goal is to see whether these signals can be used to control a robotic arm and to generate speech—giving people who have lost the ability to move or speak another way to communicate and interact with the world.
Many people with conditions like ALS, spinal cord injury, or stroke lose the ability to move their limbs and speak, which leaves them isolated and unable to control their environment. This trial is exploring whether brain signals alone can bypass the damaged nerves and muscles to restore some control and communication.
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You would undergo surgery to have a thin electrode array placed on the surface of your brain. After recovery, you would attend training sessions where you learn to control the robotic system using your brain signals and practice producing speech through the interface. The study involves regular visits to UCSF for assessment and monitoring, with the goal of demonstrating that brain signals can reliably operate complex devices and generate spoken words.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 4, 2026 · Not medical advice
United States
Sponsor
Karunesh Ganguly
Collaborators
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Enrollment target
~3 participants
Started
November 2018
Primary completion
August 2030
Age range
21 Years and older
Last updated on clinicaltrials.gov in May 2026.
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Central contact
Adelyn Tu-Chan
University of California, San Francisco
Tell us you're interested and we'll help connect you with the research team. We'll walk you through what to expect first — no email needed to get started.