Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a Treatment for Neuropathic Pain Following Spinal Cord Injury
Starting soon · Not applicable · Has a placebo group
Conditions studied: Spinal Cord Injury, Neuropathic Pain
In brief
This pilot randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical investigation will evaluate the feasibility and safety of a 30-day home-based transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) intervention in adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) and neuropathic pain. Participants will be randomized to receive either active taVNS targeting the auricular branch of the vagus nerve or sham taVNS delivered to the earlobe. Primary outcomes include feasibility, safety, adherence, acceptability, and blinding success. Exploratory outcomes include changes in neuropathic pain, systemic inflammatory biomarkers, vagal tone assessed via heart rate variability, and quality of life.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT07588711
- Run by
- London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's
- People needed
- 32
- Starts
- 2026-10-01
- Expected to finish
- 2028-08-30
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-05-15
Who can join
Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- SCI of any level or severity
- 18 years of age or older
- current neuropathic pain
- on no medications or on a stable prescribed dose (no change in prior 6-weeks) of anti-inflammatory, pain medications and/or depression medications
You may not qualify if…
- Prone to autonomic dysreflexia
- presence of cardiovascular disease
- pacemaker or other implanted electrical device
- cerebral shunts
- epilepsy
- pregnant or attempting to become pregnant
- current wound/infection
- unstable dose of prescribed anti-inflammatory, depression, or pain medications within past 6-weeks.
Where it is running
- Parkwood Institute, St Joseph's Health Care London — London, Ontario, Canada
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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