An interventional study of EIM testing and Nerve & muscle ultrasonography in Neuromuscular Disease, Motor Neuron Disease and Inherited Neuromuscular Conditions, sponsored by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 2 Years to 110 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-16.
Sponsored by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science
Among 20 studies in Motor Neuron Disease by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) — 5 open to participants now, 5 under way, none of them phase 3. Motor Neuron Disease · National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
Among the 20 studies in Motor Neuron Disease by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), this one is one of 2 that started in 2013, is the only one with no phase, and was the 14th registered.
203 studies on the registry are indexed under Motor Neuron Disease; 61 are open to participants now.
Browse Motor Neuron Disease studies →5 of the 20 studies in Motor Neuron Disease by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) are open now, in 2 countries. Recruiting first, the newest first:
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) · Sites in United States
Ages 18–99
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) · Sites in United States
Ages 18–120 · Men only · Healthy volunteers
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) · Sites in United States
Ages 18–110
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) · Sites in United States, Mali
Ages 2–120
By country, each count listing its studies:
Of the 43 Motor Neuron Disease studies recruiting now, 29 (67%) set no upper age limit and 2 (5%) stop at 75 or younger; 10 take children under 18; 16 take healthy volunteers.
This study: 2 Years to 110 Years · all sexes · healthy volunteers too.
The full table on the hub →This tab as a report to print or save as PDF → With an account.
20 studies; the count open now beside each. This study's row is marked.
A study in two phases is counted once above. Listed by phase, each with its combined phases: Phase 1 2 · Phase 2 1
First in 1998; this study’s year is marked. 2 started in 2013.
This study's planned enrollment of 275 is above the median of 30 across 104 interventional studies indexed under Motor Neuron Disease.
Median enrollment 61 across the 3 interventional studies, 71 across the 17 observational. Of the 14 that completed or were terminated, 0 (0%) have results posted.
This tab as a report to print or save as PDF → With an account.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is the lead sponsor of 601 studies on the registry; 56 are open to participants now.
Of its 18 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 8 (44%) have results posted.
4 of the studies in Motor Neuron Disease by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) that are under way reach primary completion within a year, 0 of them phase 3. Phase 3 first, then by date:
| Study | Primary completion |
|---|---|
| NCT04944940National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)Clinical, Molecular and Imaging Biomarkers in Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (SBMA) | 2026-12-30 |
| NCT01900132National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)Electrical Impedance Myography: Natural History Studies inNeuromuscular Disorders and Healthy Volunteers | 2027-06-01 |
| NCT07204977National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)Acamprosate in C9orf72 Hexanucleotide Repeat Expansion Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ACALS) | 2027-09-30 |
| NCT03225144National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)Investigating Complex Neurodegenerative Disorders Related to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia | 2027-10-30 |
Add all 4 to your calendar (.ics) → With an account.
Among the 20 studies in Motor Neuron Disease by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), from their registry updates:
This tab as a report to print or save as PDF → With an account.
Background:
- Electrical impedance myography (EIM) is a new technique being studied to see if it is helpful in evaluating muscle disorders and nerve disorders. EIM looks at how a mild, painless electrical current travels through muscles. Researchers want to gain experience in using the EIM device. They will collect information on the results of using it on people with and without nerve and muscle diseases, and compare that with information from other standard tests. First, they will test the device on healthy people. Then they will test people with a variety of neuromuscular diseases. Because the test is noninvasive and not painful, researchers will test both children and adults.
Objectives:
- To gain experience using the EIM muscle testing device.
Eligibility:
Design:
Study Description: This is a natural history study examining the utility of electrical impedance myography (EIM) device in the evaluation of neuromuscular disorders. This is a novel device so the initial step was to establish reproducibility of the data and expected normative values using the EIM device on healthy volunteers. In neuromuscular disorders, the EIM device will be used to understand the results in different types of neuromuscular disorders. A subset of subjects with neuromuscular disorders are studied serially as preliminary evaluation of its utility as a biomarker in clinical studies. The protocol includes both adult and pediatric subjects.
Objectives:
Primary objective: For subjects with neuromuscular disease, we aim to understand if EIM has utility in differentiating neuromuscular disorders in adult and pediatric subjects. Also, to perform preliminary serial studies to understand the EIM device potential use as biomarker in clinical studies.
For healthy volunteers, the primary objective is reproducibility of results and the range of normative values in adult and pediatric subjects.
Secondary objectives: The three parameters, phase, reactance, resistance will be followed serially as measures of change in pediatric population.
As exploratory outcome measures, we will explore correlations between EIM and ultrasound and other electrodiagnostic methods.
Endpoints:
Primary endpoint:
For healthy volunteers, intra and interrater reliability will be evaluated to determine the utility of EIM as a reproducible biomarker. Normative values will be developed using a range of ages, mixed gender, and race to be used as a basis of comparison with subjects with neuromuscular disorders.
For subjects with neuromuscular disorders, patterns of phase, resistance and reactance in different types of neuromuscular disorders will be evaluated and examined for patterns specific to type of neuromuscular disorder.
Secondary endpoint:
The three parameters, phase, reactance, resistance will be followed serially as measures of change. This will be evaluated in small groups of neuromuscular disorders that are referred to this protocol. A cohort of pediatric healthy volunteers will be followed for two years for comparative data with pediatric subjects with neuromuscular disorders.
Exploratory endpoint:
The EIM phase, muscle ultrasound and possibly MUNIX will be compared in healthy volunteers.
203 studies on the registry are indexed under Motor Neuron Disease; 61 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 275 is above the median of 30 across 104 interventional studies indexed under Motor Neuron Disease.
Browse Motor Neuron Disease studies →National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is the lead sponsor of 601 studies on the registry; 56 are open to participants now.
Of its 18 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 8 (44%) have results posted.
Compared within Motor Neuron Disease, this study's primary condition as ClinicalTrials.gg classifies it; the registry's first condition term is Neuromuscular Diseases. The counts are of registry records indexed under each term, refreshed daily. How we classify →
HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS-ADULTS
HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS-PEDIATRIC
SUBJECTS WITH NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASE
Adult and pediatric, male or female, patients with a neuromuscular disorder are eligible even if the exact etiology of the disorder is unknown at the time of enrollment into this study. This will include neuropathy, myopathy and motor neuron disorders. It is expected that the subjects are undergoing appropriate standard diagnostic and genetic work-up outside of this protocol that will later clarify the specific etiology of the disorder. Movement disorders will also be included because of the prior research done on dystonia and EIM.
Inclusion criteria
NIH EMPLOYEES:
NIH employees and staff may participate, however EMG Section, OCD, NINDS, employees may not participate.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS-ADULTS
HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS-PEDIATRIC
SUBJECTS WITH NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASE:
No clinical evidence of a neuromuscular disorder on clinical evaluation.
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Healthy Volunteers and patients
Device: EIM testing · Device: Nerve & muscle ultrasonography · Device: Nerve conduction studies · Device: Electromyography (EMG)
EIM device is placed on the muscle and a high frequency current is delivered to the skin.
Ultrasound waves to examine the muscles and nerves
Small metal disk electrodes attached to wires onto skin to measure how fast nerves conduct electrical impulses and the strength of the connection between nerves and muscles.
Thin needle placed into muscles to record electrical activity-adults only
Patients - EIM measures for a selection of muscles
Obtaining measures using EIM device in different types of neuromuscular disorders.
Time frame: End of study
Healthy Volunteers - EIM measures for a selection of muscles with the aim of developing normative values for the NIH EMG lab
Obtaining measures using EIM device- reproducibility and normative data
Time frame: End of study
Serial studies in pediatric patients
Serial measures of EIM in patients with neuromuscular disorders
Time frame: End of study
Healthy Volunteers - exploratory correlations of ultrasound and electrodiagnostic methods such nerve conduction studies and less likely, EMG
Obtaining measures using EIM device and comparing with ultrasound and motor unit number estimation techniques.
Time frame: End of study
Plan to share: Undecided — There is no formalized plan to make IPD available of a website. The data from this protocol would be available in anonomyzed format in relationship to publications.
Started Jun 2013 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Jun 2027, 167 months after the start.
Of 32 interventional studies with no phase under Motor Neuron Disease, half reached primary completion within 35 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 11 and three quarters within 77. This study's planned 167 months is above that.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) →