# Development and Evaluation of a Higher Power tACS Device for the Treatment of SUD

> **NIH NIH R43** · PULVINAR NEURO LLC · 2021 · $319,039

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY – Pulvinar Neuro LLC, TOWNSEND
Substance use disorder (SUD) is a highly prevalent but difficult to treat brain disorder (Wise et al., 2014;
McLellan et al., 2000). While clinicians have a range of a range of pharmacologic and behavioral interventions
available for the treatment of SUD, unmet need remains high regardless of drug of abuse with 12-month
relapse rates of 40-60% (Klein, 2016; McLellan et al., 2000). Transcranial alternating current stimulation
(tACS) represents a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of SUD with a recent study of tACS in SUD
showing promising initial results (Daughters et al., 2020). However, shifting from short-term, instantaneous
effects of stimulation to long-lasting, therapeutic circuit modulation requires more extensive tACS paradigms
than can currently be achieved with existing technology.
Here, we propose to address this gap by developing XCSITE HPtACS, a high-powered tACS device based
on our existing XCSITE platform that enables gold-standard, double-blind, placebo-controlled study designs.
In this proposal, we will complete modifications to our existing XCSITE 100 device to enable the higher
amplitude stimulation required for a durable therapeutic effect. We will evaluate the performance and safety
of the device in a preclinical rat study before evaluating feasibility and tolerability of higher amplitude
stimulation in a pilot study of patients with SUD. The goal of this Phase 1 grant is to advance product
development and testing to prepare the device for further clinical development ahead of seeking FDA
clearance for the treatment of SUD. Pulvinar Neuro has successful track-record of developing and
commercializing mobile neurophysiology research equipment. In a future Phase 2 study, we plan to perform
an initial treatment clinical trial to assess the efficacy of XCSITE HPtACS as a therapeutic for SUD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10325051
- **Project number:** 1R43DA054848-01
- **Recipient organization:** PULVINAR NEURO LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Leah Bishop Townsend
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $319,039
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10325051

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10325051, Development and Evaluation of a Higher Power tACS Device for the Treatment of SUD (1R43DA054848-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10325051. Licensed CC0.

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