A novel method of non-invasive brain stimulation to enhance motor function in chronic stroke patients

Magnetic Tides, Inc. received a $936,787 Project Grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders program (CFDA 93.853), effective September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2028. The award funds development and validation of Kilohertz Transcranial Magnetic Perturbation (KTMP), a novel non-invasive brain stimulation technology designed to enhance motor function in chronic stroke patients. The three-year research initiative will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of KTMP in improving upper limb motor performance by targeting the perilesional motor cortex at stimulation intensities (up to 8 V/M) not achievable with existing non-invasive brain stimulation methods.

The research deliverables include short-term and long-term assessments of motor performance improvements and corresponding physiological changes induced by KTMP stimulation in chronic stroke populations. This work represents a translational research effort aimed at advancing treatment options for patients with post-stroke motor dysfunction, with potential to establish KTMP as a clinically viable therapeutic approach that could transform recovery outcomes and quality of life for stroke survivors.

Abstract

The discovery of more effective treatment for stroke is a pressing clinical demand. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS), offers a promising treatment for many neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, to date, the clinical efficacy has proven highly variable. This is likely because current NIBS approaches cannot precisely modulate patterns of brain activity at intensity levels sufficient to produce physiological and behavioral change that are clinically relevant. The goal of this proposal is to test and validate a novel first-in-class non-invasive approach to enhance motor function in chronic stroke patients. We have developed a kilohertz transcranial magnetic perturbation (KTMP) device, which allows to target frequency-specific neural activity non-invasively - with no patient discomfort - at and beyond stimulation intensities associated with enhanced recovery from stroke (up to 8 V/M), something that is not possible to achieve with existing NIBS methods. The three-year funding period will be used to evaluate the preliminary efficacy of KTMP in improving upper limb motor performance in patients suffering from chronic stroke. After confirming the safety and tolerability of KTMP in a larger cohort of chronic stroke patients, we will target the perilesional motor cortex and assess short-term (aim 1) and long-term (aim 2) improvement of motor performance, and corresponding physiological changes induced by KTMP stimulation. If our expectations are confirmed, our novel NIBS system holds the promise of revolutionizing the treatment landscape for patients with debilitating dysfunction post-stroke, paving the way for a new ERA of enhanced recovery and improved quality of life.