Research at the Bionics Institute Vagus Nerve Stimulation Centre of Excellence (VNSCoE) will be boosted by government grants totalling almost $2.2 million recently awarded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
Bionics Institute Chief Technology Officer, Professor James Fallon will lead a NHMRC Development Grant project in collaboration with the industry partner that manufactures the implantable pulse generator of the Bionics Institute’s vagus nerve stimulation device, with the aim of accelerating translation of the device into the clinic.
Head of the VNS CoE, A/Prof Sophie Payne will lead an Ideas Grant project with Dr Tomoko Hyakumura, A/Prof Peta Grigsby and Dr Alex Thompson with the aim of understanding how vagus nerve stimulation at abdominal level activates the brain to abate seizures in epilepsy.
In a funding landscape where only 8% of NHMRC grants were successful in 2025, we are delighted to receive significant funding for this vital research, which could change the lives of millions of people around the world with challenging conditions. Robert Klupacs, Bionics Institute CEO
The Centre of Excellence brings together specialised teams of engineers, scientists and clinicians with international and Australian collaborators to investigate the viability of the VNS device as a treatment for over 20 conditions. The device is currently in clinical trials for Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis, and under investigation for the treatment of epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease with more in the pipeline.
For more information about the VNSCoE, go to: https://www.bionicsinstitute.org/our-research/vagus-nerve-stimulation-research/
