Testing spinal cord stimulation to activate fat tissue in adults with obesity
Tests a spinal electrode device in adults with obesity or diabetes.
Key facts
- Who runs it
- Oregon Health and Science University
- Where
- Portland, United StatesSee the site
- Trial code
- Registry title
- Brown Adipose Tissue Activation by Spinal Cord Stimulation
- Status
- Recruiting
- People taking part
- 10 people, planned
- Started
- 19 Feb 2021
- Expected to end
- Dec 2029
- Type of study
- Interventional
- Treatments tested
- Research electrode
- Record updated
- 25 August 2026
Who can take part
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults aged 21-70 with long-lasting nerve pain in the leg and back who already plan to have spinal cord stimulation for pain. Their BMI must be 25-45.
- Age
- 21-70 years
- Sex
- All sexes can join.
- Disease stage
- Persistent neuropathic (nerve) leg and back pain. BMI of 25-45.
- Earlier treatment
- Must already be planning spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for pain. Must not have had an SCS trial for pain before.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Not considering SCS for pain
- Taking beta blockers
- Weight change of more than 5% in the last 3 months
- Habitual tobacco use or habitual excessive alcohol use
- Pregnancy
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 16 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- Age: 21-70 years
- Persistent neuropathic leg and back pain
- Subjects who are already planning to undergo SCS for pain
- Subjects who have not received a prior SCS trial for pain
- Subjects with a BMI of 25-45, using formula; weight (lb) / [height (in)]2 x 703
Who cannot take part
- Not considering SCS for pain
- Forensic patient
- Taking beta blockers
- Weight change > 5% within last 3 months
- Habitual tobacco use
- Habitual excessive alcohol use
- Pregnancy
- Decisionally impaired adults
- Children
- Neonates
- Subjects with a BMI of <25 or >45
Check if you might fit
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 21 and 70 years old?
Where in United States
- Oregon Health Science UniversityPortland, United StatesContact: Kim Burchiel, MDTaking people
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
The objective of this study is to investigate and utilize spinal cord stimulation (SCS) as an effective approach to eliciting weight loss and potentially alleviating Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), as evidenced by increasing metabolism of adipose tissue.
The group in the trial
- All subjectsTreatment being tested
All subjects will have two PET/CT scans on days 3 and 5 after SCS electrode implantation: (1) Baseline and (2) SCS-activated. Other than SCS activation, both studies will be conducted under identical conditions. For the first scan, subjects will be randomly assigned to either a baseline (no SCS during PET/CT) or with SCS during PET/CT prior to the day of their first scan. The second scan will complete the sequence with either a baseline or SCS-activated scan, as randomized.
Treatment: Research electrode
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorData and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Official title
- Brown Adipose Tissue Activation by Spinal Cord Stimulation
- Plain-language title
- Testing spinal cord stimulation to activate fat tissue in adults with obesityGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
- AI summary
- From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
- Fit questions
- Built from NCT04326192, who can take part
- Record updated
- 25 August 2026