Using electronic devices to stimulate gut nerves for better digestion and metabolism
Ingestible Electronic Devices for Non-Invasive Vagal Stimulation
This study is looking at special tiny devices you can swallow that send gentle signals to your gut to help it communicate better with your brain, and it's aimed at helping people with diabetes or prediabetes improve their metabolism and overall health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Carnegie-Mellon University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10908330 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the use of ingestible electronic devices designed to stimulate sensory neurons in the gut. By mimicking the chemical signals associated with healthy digestion and metabolism, these devices aim to enhance communication between the gut and the brain. The approach involves flexible electrodes that deliver electronic pulses to the gut's sensory nerves, which will be tested in a pig model to measure physiological responses. The ultimate goal is to understand how these signals can improve metabolic health, particularly for individuals with diabetes or prediabetes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include individuals over 20 years old who are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes.
Not a fit: Patients who are under 20 years old or do not have metabolic disorders like diabetes may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to innovative treatments for diabetes and obesity by improving gut-brain communication.
How similar studies have performed: While the concept of using electronic devices for nerve stimulation is gaining traction, this specific approach is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in humans.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- Carnegie-Mellon University — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dickey, Elizabeth C — Carnegie-Mellon University
- Study coordinator: Dickey, Elizabeth C
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.