Biomarker-Guided Fibromyalgia Treatment with Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Official title: Toward Biomarker-Guided Fibromyalgia Treatment with Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11441885 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to see if non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation can help people with fibromyalgia by balancing gut health and identifying biomarkers to guide treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 7, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $227,800 |
| NIH project number | 1R61AR086955-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11441885 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with fibromyalgia, particularly those with low baseline fecal IAP levels who may respond to taVNS-based therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without fibromyalgia or those without the identified biomarker profile may not experience benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
Fibromyalgia is a painful, often hard-to-treat condition. This grant explores whether non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation can normalize gut bacteria balance and relieve FM symptoms, guided by biological markers such as intestinal alkaline phosphatase. The team has preliminary findings suggesting certain FM patients with low baseline IAP may respond differently to taVNS, so the project aims to test this approach in a structured way and identify biomarkers to tailor therapy. If successful, this could lead to a personalized, non-drug option for managing FM pain and associated symptoms. The project is led by Massachusetts General Hospital with a focus on translating gut-brain biology into patient-relevant outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with fibromyalgia could receive a non-invasive, personalized treatment approach that improves pain and quality of life by targeting gut microbiome balance.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary clinical observations and pilot studies suggest a signal that taVNS can influence IAP and pain in FM, but larger trials are needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Lucy L. — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Chen, Lucy L.
Related research
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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.