# OpenNerve Platform for Post-Stroke Dysphagia and Aspiration Pneumonia

> **NIH NIH U41** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · 2024 · $293,369

## Abstract

Despite a wide-ranging interest in performing clinical research for bioelectronic medicine applications, there
are no open-architecture and open-source implantable systems for autonomic nerve stimulation and recording
available to researchers. As a result, progress towards bioelectronic clinical therapies is hampered by the
significant technical, regulatory, and financial hurdles faced by researchers to gain access to the few commercial
implantable neuromodulation technologies for early clinical studies. The few clinical closed-loop implantable
neuromodulation systems presently available are not suitable for the many bioelectronic medicine applications
envisioned, as they lack key functional modules for accessing the autonomic nerves; moreover, most use closed
architectures (e.g., the use of custom ASICs instead of commercial over-the-shelf components) and proprietary
software, limiting the ability to adapt such systems for different clinical indications.
 To address these shortcomings, the overall objective of this HORNET OpenNerve Platform is to develop and
disseminate a fully open-architecture and open-source implantable system for autonomic nerve stimulation and
end-organ sensing. In this administrative supplement, we will perform short-term and long-term validation of the
OpenNerve Platform functionality in large animals for closed-loop cervical vagus nerve stimulation and
glossopharyngeal nerve stimulation for treatment of stroke-induced dysphagia and aspiration pneumonia. The
OpenNerve Platform includes an external charger and controller, implantable pulse generator, and an assortment
of implantable leads for nerve stimulation and internal organ sensing. The use of vagus nerve stimulation for
treating stroke -induced dysphasia and aspiration pneumonia was selected based on potential clinical indications
that are of interest to the NIH SPARC program.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11080169
- **Project number:** 3U41NS129514-02S4
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Raja Hitti
- **Activity code:** U41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $293,369
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2022-09-23 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11080169

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11080169, OpenNerve Platform for Post-Stroke Dysphagia and Aspiration Pneumonia (3U41NS129514-02S4). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11080169. Licensed CC0.

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