# Spinal Cord Innovation in Pediatrics to Treat Cerebral Palsy (SCiP Clinical Study)

> **NIH NIH R44** · SPINEX, INC. · 2023 · $924,592

## Abstract

Summary
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability in childhood. Population-based studies from around
the world report prevalence estimates ranging from 1.5 to 4 per 1000 individuals. Globally, approximately 17
million people have CP. It is a diagnosis that includes a wide range of symptoms with heterogeneous etiologies
of neural and cardiovascular origins. A wide range of functional disorders typically become obvious in CP during
early development. For example, the majority of children classified as Gross Motor Functional Classification
Scale (GMFCS) Level I are expected to reach their motor potential between 7-9 years and remain stable after
that until age 21 where they may decline due to pain, weakness and stiffness. While movements such as stepping
and posture are amongst the most recognizable impairments, absence or abnormal sensations, perception,
impaired cognition, communication skills, epilepsy, spasticity, poor control of fine movements and marked
secondary musculoskeletal problems can emerge with time. Presently, all available interventions are designed
to minimize the severity of symptoms rather than correcting the neurological etiology. Two commonly preferred
treatments, selective dorsal root rhizotomy and repetitive administration of botulinum toxin A (Botox) directly
target the neuromuscular system to counter spasticity. While these two strategies minimize some of the
disruptive movements associated with spasticity; the long-term benefits of these interventions are less clear and
both cause irreversible changes to the neuromuscular system that may be detrimental to future function. In the
present proposal we have merged ideas and concepts derived from both recent clinical observations of CP and
decades of studies of spinal cord injury to arrive at a subject-specific rehabilitation strategy driven by activity-
based mechanisms during transcutaneous spinal neuromodulation. The objectives of our neuromodulation
procedures are to amplify the plasticity of the neuromuscular system and help children gain the ability to perform
coordinated movements through activity-dependent plasticity. We hypothesized that transcutaneous spinal
neuromodulation during activity-based neurorehabilitation therapy (ABNT) can transform the neural networks in
children diagnosed with spastic CP to improve voluntary postural and locomotor activity as captured on the
GMFM88 scores. This strategy could provide a specific physiological target of fundamental significance in the
control of movement that can be used to improve function and provide new care pathways for children with CP.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10760810
- **Project number:** 1R44HD112281-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** SPINEX, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Parag Gad
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $924,592
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-09-22 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10760810

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10760810, Spinal Cord Innovation in Pediatrics to Treat Cerebral Palsy (SCiP Clinical Study) (1R44HD112281-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10760810. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*