New vagus nerve stimulation approach to help control appetite and body weight
Developing a novel stimulus paradigm and interface of vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) to treat obesity
This project tries a new way of stimulating the vagus nerve to reduce appetite and help people who are overweight or have obesity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11320781 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From the patient perspective, researchers are developing a new stimulus waveform and device interface for bilateral vagus nerve stimulation that could one day be used to reduce food intake. To do this they are mapping how different stimulation settings change nerve activation, brain regions tied to fullness, and actual food consumption using implanted nerve cuffs and brain imaging in rats fed normal or high‑fat diets. The team will compare many stimulus patterns over several months to find which settings best trigger satiety signals. Findings will inform device design and possible future human trials for people with overweight and obesity.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be adults with overweight or obesity who are interested in device-based treatments for weight control and willing to consider future neuromodulation procedures.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatments, those with medical conditions that prevent implanted devices, or those who prefer noninvasive weight-loss methods are unlikely to benefit directly from this preclinical work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more effective vagus nerve stimulation therapies that reduce hunger and support weight loss with better-targeted stimulation.
How similar studies have performed: Previous vagus nerve stimulation approaches for weight loss have produced mixed and modest results in small human studies, so this project builds on limited prior success.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- Veterans Health Administration — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schiefer, Matthew Anthony — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Schiefer, Matthew Anthony
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.