# Cortical priming to optimize gait rehabilitation post stroke

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO · 2024 · $516,398

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Achieving functional ambulation post stroke continues to be a challenge for stroke survivors,
clinicians and researchers. The proposed study builds on our earlier R01 where we successfully
examined the feasibility of a clinically implementable walking program which involves high
intensity speed-based treadmill training (HIISTT) in combination with cortical priming to improve
walking speed of individuals with stroke. Cortical priming has emerged as a promising adjuvant
to enhance the outcomes of motor training. Our research team has pioneered and successfully
developed neuromodulation techniques for the lower limb motor cortex using non-invasive
transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and ankle motor skill training. In this renewal
application, our goal is to quantify the effectiveness of 36 sessions of cortical priming plus
HIISTT intervention in comparison to sham priming plus HIISTT. Outcome measures will include
gait variables, balance, aerobic capacity, quality of life, neurophysiological measures of
descending and interhemispheric corticomotor excitability measured with transcranial magnetic
stimulation (TMS), and changes in serum BDNF before, immediately after and 3-months post
training. There has been a growing interest in understanding responsiveness to training to
personalize stroke rehabilitation. We aim to understand variability in responsiveness to training
using patient-specific parameters such as participant demographics, neurophysiological
measures and the presence of genetic variations such as brain derived neurotrophic factor
(BDNF) polymorphism. With our innovative mechanistic approach to enhance walking recovery,
we seek to optimize gait rehabilitation post stroke and characterize relationships between neural
mechanisms, motor function and genetic variations. Improved gait will enable stroke survivors to
be more independent in the community and advance their quality of life, which is highly relevant
to the mission of the NIH.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10890836
- **Project number:** 5R01HD075777-10
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Sangeetha Madhavan
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $516,398
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2014-01-10 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10890836

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10890836, Cortical priming to optimize gait rehabilitation post stroke (5R01HD075777-10). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10890836. Licensed CC0.

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