Responsive brain device to prevent binge-eating episodes
Responsive Neurostimulation for Loss of Control Eating
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · NIH-10620334
A small implanted brain device will watch for signals linked to loss-of-control eating and deliver brief pulses to try to stop binge episodes in people with obesity who haven't responded to other treatments.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-10620334 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would get a small responsive neurostimulator implanted near a brain area called the nucleus accumbens. The device listens for low-frequency brain rhythms that may signal an upcoming loss-of-control eating episode and automatically delivers brief stimulation when those patterns appear. The project will start as an early feasibility effort focused on device safety and function while collecting lab and real-world (ambulatory) measurements of eating behavior and brain signals. Doctors will use controlled tests and everyday monitoring to refine the detection algorithms and stimulation settings.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with refractory obesity marked by frequent loss-of-control or binge eating who have not improved with standard behavioral or medical treatments and who are willing to undergo device implantation and follow-up visits.
Not a fit: People whose overeating is mild or well-controlled with therapy or medication, or who cannot safely undergo brain surgery, are unlikely to benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce or prevent binge-eating episodes and help people with treatment-resistant obesity regain control over eating.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies showed that stimulating the nucleus accumbens reduced binge-like eating, and responsive neurostimulation is FDA-approved for epilepsy, but using it for binge eating in people is novel and at an early feasibility stage.
Where this research is happening
PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA — PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HALPERN, CASEY HARRISON — UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- Study coordinator: HALPERN, CASEY HARRISON
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.