Spinal Cord InjuryNCT02331979
Improving Bladder Function in SCI by Neuromodulation
A study testing Electromagnetic Neuromodulation in people with Spinal Cord Injury, run by University of California, Los Angeles at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This trial will investigate the safety and utility of spinal cord neuromodulation to improve urinary bladder function in the context of spinal cord injury. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 45 years, men only
- Conditions the study is for
- Spinal Cord Injury
- What is being tested?
- Electromagnetic Neuromodulation
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 24 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Sep 2015to 31 Jan 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 45 years
- Men only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Male 18-45 years;
- At least 1 year post-injury;
- Non-progressive SCI at C2-T8 (non-conus injury);
- Motor Complete ASIA (A or B);
- Neurogenic bladder requiring clean intermittent straight catheterization;
- Able to attend twice weekly testing sessions for 6 months.
- Have intact lower extremity anatomy and able to use lower extremity for assistive standing and stepping.
Who cannot join
- History of autonomic dysreflexia;
- Ventilator dependency;
- Musculoskeletal dysfunction, unhealed fracture, pressure ulcer, active infection;
- Clinically significant depression or ongoing drug abuse;
- Received botox injection, or bladder surgery (suprapubic access, Brindley procedure, etc.); 6. Prostatic hypertrophy or bladder outlet disorder;
- 7. Cardiopulmonary disease that precludes lower extremity training or rehabilitation.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, 90095
Daniel C Lu, MD PhD, 310-267-2975, dclu@mednet.ucla.edu
About this study
This trial will investigate the safety and utility of spinal cord neuromodulation to improve urinary bladder function in the context of spinal cord injury.
Read the detailed description
This trial will investigate the safety and utility of spinal cord neuromodulation to improve urinary bladder function in the context of spinal cord injury. Neuromodulation will be in the form of transcutaneous electrical stimulation and/or magnetic stimulation.
- Conditions
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Being tested
- Electromagnetic Neuromodulation
- Medical subject headings
- Spinal Cord Injuries
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Electromagnetic NeuromodulationDevice
Also called Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation, Magnetic Stimulation
Electromagnetic stimulation to neuromodulate the spinal cord in the context of spinal cord injury.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Stimulation of Non-Naive | Experimental | Evaluate neuromodulation in 6 subjects with prior motor training. Receives: Device: Electromagnetic Neuromodulation |
| Stimulation of Naive | Experimental | Evaluate neuromodulation in 6 naive subjects. Receives: Device: Electromagnetic Neuromodulation |
| Stimulation | Experimental | Apply parameters discovered in Arm 1 and Arm 2 to evaluate neuromodulation in 12 naive subjects. Receives: Device: Electromagnetic Neuromodulation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Urine flow and volume
Measured: Months 1-48
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted6 Jan 2015 (estimated)
- Study startSep 2015
- Primary completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Jan 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Spinal Cord InjuryStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of California, Los AngelesThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 24 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, Los Angeles
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Daniel Lu, MD, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02331979
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 14-000932
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 3 Jan 2015
- Last updated
- 13 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Improving Bladder Function in SCI by Neuromodulation
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02331979
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 14-000932
- Conditions
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 24 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, Los AngelesUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Sep 2015 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 6 Jan 2015 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This trial will investigate the safety and utility of spinal cord neuromodulation to improve urinary bladder function in the context of spinal cord injury.
Detailed description
This trial will investigate the safety and utility of spinal cord neuromodulation to improve urinary bladder function in the context of spinal cord injury. Neuromodulation will be in the form of transcutaneous electrical stimulation and/or magnetic stimulation.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Stimulation of Non-Naive | Experimental | Device: Electromagnetic NeuromodulationEvaluate neuromodulation in 6 subjects with prior motor training. |
| Stimulation of Naive | Experimental | Device: Electromagnetic NeuromodulationEvaluate neuromodulation in 6 naive subjects. |
| Stimulation | Experimental | Device: Electromagnetic NeuromodulationApply parameters discovered in Arm 1 and Arm 2 to evaluate neuromodulation in 12 naive subjects. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 45 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Male 18-45 years;
- At least 1 year post-injury;
- Non-progressive SCI at C2-T8 (non-conus injury);
- Motor Complete ASIA (A or B);
- Neurogenic bladder requiring clean intermittent straight catheterization;
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- History of autonomic dysreflexia;
- Ventilator dependency;
- Musculoskeletal dysfunction, unhealed fracture, pressure ulcer, active infection;
- Clinically significant depression or ongoing drug abuse;
- Received botox injection, or bladder surgery (suprapubic access, Brindley procedure, etc.); 6. Prostatic hypertrophy or bladder outlet disorder;
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Electromagnetic NeuromodulationAlso: Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation, Magnetic StimulationElectromagnetic stimulation to neuromodulate the spinal cord in the context of spinal cord injury. | Device | Stimulation, Stimulation of Naive, Stimulation of Non-Naive |
Primary outcome
Urine flow and volume
Time frame: Months 1-48
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Feb 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Electromagnetic Neuromodulation in people with Spinal Cord Injury, run by University of California, Los Angeles at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Daniel Lu, MD PhD (310-825-4321, dclu@mednet.ucla.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Urine flow and volume (time frame: Months 1-48). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Feb 2026.