UT Southwestern and UTMB Awarded $500,000 Grant to Study Non-Invasive Neurostimulation for Chronic Subdural Hematomas

Groundbreaking Trial to Use Spark Biomedical's Sparrow Link™ Technology

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Spark Biomedical, Inc., a leader in wearable neurostimulation, announced that the Trauma Research and Combat Casualty Care Collaborative has awarded a $500,000 grant for a clinical trial evaluating transcutaneous auricular neurostimulation™ (tAN) as a non-invasive treatment for chronic subdural hematomas (cSDH). The study will be led by researchers from UT Southwestern Medical Center and the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Why it matters

Chronic subdural hematomas are one of the most common neurosurgical conditions, accounting for over 90,000 hospitalizations annually. Current treatments, including surgery and embolization, are invasive and carry risks. This trial aims to introduce the first non-invasive therapeutic approach for cSDH, which could reduce the need for invasive procedures and improve patient outcomes.

The details

The randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled pilot study will enroll 20 adults diagnosed with cSDH who are deemed candidates for non-operative management. Participants will self-administer daily 30-minute tAN sessions for one month using Spark Biomedical's Sparrow Link system. Outcomes will include the need for rescue surgical intervention, changes in hematoma volume and other imaging metrics, and analysis of biomarkers like CRP, cortisol, and IL-6.

  • The study will begin enrollment in February 2026.

The players

Dr. Alex Valadka

Professor of Neurological Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center and the Principal Investigator for the study.

Dr. Ryan Chiu

A fifth-year neurosurgery resident at UT Southwestern who has been working with Spark Biomedical through the company's Fellowship Program.

Dr. Peter Kan

Co-investigator from the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Spark Biomedical, Inc.

A U.S.-based wearable medical device innovator dedicated to advancing the field of bioelectronic medicine and the developer of the Sparrow Link™ neurostimulation platform.

Trauma Research and Combat Casualty Care Collaborative

The organization that awarded the $500,000 grant for the clinical trial.

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What they’re saying

“Spark Biomedical was founded on the belief that neurostimulation can address critical unmet needs in medicine through safe, targeted, wearable technology. We are deeply honored that our platform will support this groundbreaking research.”

— Michael Darrow, Director of Research Innovations at Spark Biomedical

What’s next

The study is expected to begin enrollment in February 2026.

The takeaway

This clinical trial represents a significant step forward in the treatment of chronic subdural hematomas, a common and often debilitating neurosurgical condition. If successful, the use of non-invasive neurostimulation could reduce the need for risky surgical interventions and improve outcomes for patients.