Auricular vagus nerve stimulation to help HIV-related nerve pain in older adults
Official title: Mechanistic Modulation of HIV-Associated Peripheral Neuropathy in Older Adults via Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Funded at University of Miami School of Medicine · NIH-11411053 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new, non-invasive brain-nerve stimulation approach is being tested to help older adults living with HIV who have nerve pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $422,125 |
| NIH project number | 1R21NS149935-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411053 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 50 and older living with HIV who have chronic HIV-associated peripheral neuropathy.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without HIV-related nerve pain or those outside the age range may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project will test whether stimulating the ear’s vagus nerve can reduce HIV-associated nerve pain in people aged 50 and older. It will use a randomized, waitlist-controlled design with 70 participants to explore changes in nervous system signals, pain processing, and blood inflammatory markers after AVNS. Researchers will combine these measurements with machine learning to identify personal biomarker patterns that predict who benefits most. The study aims to lay the groundwork for personalized neuromodulation treatments for HIV-related nerve pain in aging individuals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive a non-drug, personalized approach to reduce HIV-related nerve pain and improve everyday function.
How similar studies have gone: Previous neuromodulation studies show promise for pain modulation, but this project combines central and peripheral biomarkers with ML for personalized insights, making it relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Miami School of Medicine
Coral Gables, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wong, Marlon Lascelles — University of Miami School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Wong, Marlon Lascelles
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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.