A tiny implantable sensor to track how the brain controls the stomach
Developing a sensor to monitor brain-to-gut communication
Testing a small wireless implant that records brain-driven stomach movements in animal models to help people with stomach motility problems like gastroparesis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11262824 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project is building a miniature, stretchable, wireless sensor that can be implanted on the stomach of awake, freely moving mice to record gastric motility over long periods. Engineers will combine stretchable bioelectronics with wireless telemetry so the device can chronically monitor stomach activity without tethering the animals. The team will use optogenetics and microfluidic tools to selectively activate or alter stomach signals while the sensor records responses. Results are intended to reveal how brain-to-gut communication controls motility and to guide future therapies for human stomach motility disorders.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with gastroparesis or chronic gastric motility problems would be the most likely candidates for future clinical trials or interventions informed by this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose symptoms are caused by structural blockages, active infections, or conditions unrelated to nervous-system control of the gut may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new targets and monitoring methods that lead to better diagnosis and therapies for gastroparesis and related stomach-motility disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Related bioelectronic and optogenetic methods have shown useful results in animal research, but long-term implantable sensors for gastric motility are largely new and not yet tested in people.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Hojoon — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Lee, Hojoon
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.