Our innovative vagus nerve stimulation device is a step closer to a first-in-human trial for rheumatoid arthritis thanks to a funding boost from the Victorian Government.
Dr Sophie Payne, Professor James Fallon and their team of engineers, researchers and clinical collaborators have been awarded a $500,000 grant through the Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund (VMRAF).
The grant will help launch a clinical trial in late 2024 of our vagus nerve device, which uses electricity to dampen the body’s overactive immune response and prevent long-term damage.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic and debilitating autoimmune condition that affects over 20 million people worldwide, including almost 500,000 Australians.
Dr Sophie Payne says she hopes that the device will bring relief to those suffering from joint inflammation, pain and disability.
“Rheumatoid arthritis can have such a profound impact on quality of life for those with the condition, as well as their loved ones,” Sophie said.
Our tiny device stimulates the vagus nerve with electricity to reboot the body’s built in healing system, with the aim of providing long-term relief for those no longer responding to rheumatoid arthritis drug therapies. Dr Sophie Payne, Senior Research Fellow
As the rheumatoid arthritis device uses a similar therapeutic stimulation strategy, Bionics Institute CEO Robert Klupacs says that the VMRAF grant is pivotal to fast-tracking the development of the device.
“This funding from the Victorian Government will help our researchers set up a comprehensive clinical trial of our revolutionary medical device for rheumatoid arthritis.
“Our aim is to help sufferers and their loved ones by getting the technology into doctor’s clinics as soon as possible,” Robert said.
