FEELING AGAIN AFTER PARALYSIS: Combining Haptic Virtual Reality and Spinal Cord Neuromodulation to Restore Touch Perception in Complete Paraplegia

National Health and Medical Research Council Ideas Grant

01/01/25 – 12/31/29, Gustin (PI)

This project will combine the motivational elements of virtual walking, haptic feedback to the feet, and neuromodulation with the aim to restore sensation to areas below the site of injury.

Dr. Trost Role: Co-PI

Characterizing Provider Bias in Physical Therapy

NIH HEAL National K12 Clinical Pain Career Development Award

06/01/24 – 06/30/27, Vorensky (PI)

This project will utilize social psychology experimental methodology to examine whether licensed physical therapists show bias toward Black/African American back pain patients

Dr. Trost Role: Mentor

Virginia Consortium for Spinal Cord Injury Care

National Institute on Disability & Rehabilitation Research 

10/1/21 – 09/30/26

Gorgey (PI), Trost (Co-PI, Co-I)

Objectives of this Model Systems project are to: (1) evaluate the efficacy of home-based, blood flow restriction-enhanced, neuromuscular, electrical stimulation with or without transspinal stimulation on upper extremity function in people with tetraplegia; (2) enroll and follow a diverse group of people with traumatic SCI in the National SCIMS database; (3) lead module research to accelerate equitable care and outcomes for people from racial and ethnic minority groups with traumatic SCI; and (4) translate site specific and collaborative research findings into usable, accessible, and inclusive products for clinicians, consumers and the general public.

Dr. Trost Role: Co-PI, then Co-I upon departure from VCU

Exploring Virtual Reality Mindfulness Training for Veterans with SCI and Chronic Pain

VA Career Development Award, 1IK1RX004813-01A2

11/01/2024 – 10/30/2028, Touchett (PI)

The project will implement virtual reality (VR) applications by adapting VACALM. VA-CALM teaches Veterans the powerful skill of mindfulness and is a pre-existing program that will be adapted for virtual reality.

Dr. Trost Role: Content Mentor

Pain Reprocessing Therapy for Veterans with Chronic Back Pain

DOD Chronic Pain Research Program Clinical Outcomes Research Award

06/01/2024 – 05/30/2027, Ashar (PI)

This project proposes to test the comparative effectiveness of an evidence-based, efficacious psychological treatment known as pain reprocessing therapy (PRT) for Veterans with chronic back pain (CBP).

Dr. Trost Role: Co-I

Using Mediated Reality to Reduce Knee Osteoarthritis Pain and Improve Exercise Engagement

DOD Chronic Pain Research Program Clinical Exploration Award

06/01/2024 – 05/30/2025, Stanton (PI)

This project undertakes feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy testing (pilot/preliminary study) of an innovative, nonopioid therapy for chronic knee osteoarthritis (OA) pain that leverages mediated reality (MeR) technology to improve engagement in physical exercise.

Dr. Trost Role: Co-I

Brief Pain Reprocessing Therapy: An Optimized Integrative Exposure Intervention for Veterans with Chronic Low Back Pain

DOD Chronic Pain Research Program Clinical Exploration Award

06/01/2024 – 05/30/2025,  Sturgeon (PI)

The current project proposes a study of the feasibility, acceptability, safety, and preliminary efficacy of a brief, telehealth-based behavioral intervention for chronic low back pain that combines (1) pain neuroscience education, (2) graded exposure, (3) behavioral interventions for increasing positive affect, and (4) mindfulness meditation.

Dr. Trost Role: Co-I

Examining Stress Response in Physician Assistant Students Using Virtual Reality Simulation

Education Innovation Grant, UAB School of Health Professions

03/15/2024 – 02/30/2025, Blanchard (PI)

The project aims to examine physiological responses to an immersive virtual simulation platform to prepare medical trainees for real-world clinical scenarios

Dr. Trost Role: Co-I

Improving Cardiometabolic Health in Individuals with SCI Using Home-based Interactive Virtual Gaming.

DOD Spinal Cord Injury Research Program Translational Research Grant

03/01/23 – 04/30/26, Finley (PI)

The proposed study aims to develop and to examine the safety and feasibility of a home-based virtual reality exercise gaming platform for individuals with spinal cord injury.

Dr. Trost Role: Co-PI

Virtual Reality at the Point of Care to Increase Uptake of MOUD in the ED

R21/R33 National Institute of Drug Abuse

07/01/23 – 06/30/28, Fraenkel (PI)

This is a two phase study which will first develop and then test a virtual reality intervention to be delivered to individuals who arrive in the ED with an opiate overdose. The VR intervention is intended to facilitate adaptive decision-making. 

Dr. Trost Role: Co-I

A Pilot Trial to Examine Immersive Virtual Walking at Treatment for Neuropathic Pain in Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

DOD Spinal Cord Injury Research Program Clinical Trial Award

03/01/23 – 04/30/26

This study will append a pilot clinical trial to the ongoing clinical trial of virtual walking targeting only individuals with complete injury. The proposed trial will examine efficacy of the virtual walking intervention among individual who have an incomplete injury.

Dr. Trost Role: PI

Combining Immersive Haptic Virtual Reality and Spinal Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation to Restore Somatosensory Perception in Complete Spinal Cord Injury.

Wings for Life

07/01/22 - 6/30/24, Gustin (PI)

The proposed intervention will further integrate related haptic, volitional, and embodiment VR capabilities with spinal transcutaneous electrical stimulation (tES) to simultaneously modulate the functionality of the surviving spinal sensory nerve fibers and enhance somatosensory (touch) signals in the brain in an effort to restore touch perception among individuals with “discomplete” SCI.

Dr. Trost Role: Co-I

An Immersive Dynamic Virtual Ambulation Platform to Reduce Risk of Injury Following Sports-Related Concussion

 VCU Quest Research Fund

07/01/22 - 12/31/24

Oldham (MPI)

This project will develop, as well as examine the safety and feasibility of a VR ambulation platform in a sample of individuals with recent sports-related concussion.

Dr. Trost Role: MPI

Home-Based Immersive Virtual Reality and Spinal Stimulation for Upper Limb Rehabilitation in Tetraplegia

DOD Spinal Cord Injury Research Program Investigator-Initiated Award

8/01/22 - 7/31/25

Peterson, Trost (MPI)

This project will pair VR-facilitated upper limb rehabilitation and noninvasive spinal stimulation with the aim to improve upper extremity function among individuals with tetraplegia.

Dr. Trost Role: MPI

Immersive Virtual Reality and Noninvasive Spinal Stimulation to Promote Arm Function in Individuals with Tetraplegia

Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services

07/01/21-06/30/24

Peterson (MPI)

This project will develop a telehealth application that combines VR-mediated rehabilitation and noninvasive spinal stimulation to facilitate improvement in upper extremity function among individuals with tetraplegia.

Dr. Trost Role: MPI

RESTORE: lmmersive Virtual Reality Treatment for Restoring in People with Discomplete Paraplegia

New South Wales Health Ministry Spinal Cord Injury Research Grants Program

06/01/20 - 05/31/25

Gustin (MPI)

This award will support development and clinical testing of virtual haptic interface to promote touch sensation among individuals identified as having discomplete spinal cord injury.

Dr. Trost Role: MPI

A Multisite Randomized Clinical Trial to Examine the Efficacy and Mechanisms of Immersive Virtual Walking Treatment for Neuropathic Pain in Spinal Cord Injury

DOD Spinal Cord Injury Research Program Clinical Trial Award

10/01/20 - 09/31/26

This award will support a multi-site clinical trial to examine the efficacy and cortical mechanisms of an immersive interactive VR walking treatment for individuals with spinal cord injury and neuropathic pain.

Dr. Trost Role: PI