Funding Fast Tracks Arthritis Nerve Stim Device

An Australian vagus nerve stimulation device used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has received a funding boost to help fast-track the launch of its clinical trial later this year.

The Bionics Institute’s Dr Sophie Payne (pictured above), Professor James Fallon and their team were awarded $500,000 through a recent Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund grant round to help develop the cutting-edge technology.

The news is a promising step for the almost 500,000 Australians living with rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic and often-debilitating autoimmune condition.

“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,” said Dr Payne.

Bionics Institute Chief Executive Officer, Dr Robert Klupacs added: “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.”

More information is available via the Bionics Institute.