Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) awarded Kessler Foundation, Inc. a Project Grant of $281,114 under the Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.865) effective June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2028. This research initiative will generate preliminary data on the efficacy of spinal cord transcutaneous stimulation (SCTS) as a non-invasive intervention to address orthostatic hypotension and unstable blood pressure in individuals with cervical or high thoracic spinal cord injuries (SCI). The study will enroll ten participants with chronic SCI (at least one year post-injury) and deliver 20 thirty-minute SCTS cardiovascular training sessions utilizing personalized stimulation parameter mapping.

The grant deliverables encompass three primary research aims: (1) assessment of immediate blood pressure response to SCTS during tilt testing; (2) evaluation of long-term effects of the 20-session training protocol; and (3) analysis of sustained improvements in blood pressure regulation and daily functional outcomes. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, immediately post-training, and bi-weekly for two months following the training period, utilizing both cardiovascular and person-centered outcome measures. This research aims to establish SCTS as a feasible, accessible therapeutic option with broader applicability across the spinal cord injury population, potentially indicating autonomic nervous system adaptation rather than providing only temporary blood pressure elevation.