Research

We study the circuits, physiological mechanisms and neuroimmune pathways by which the nervous system senses the state of peripheral organs and systems, and regulates organ function. Our emphasis is on neural regulation of immune and metabolic processes and of cardiopulmonary function.

• Vagus nerve stimulation modulates distinct acetylcholine receptors on B cells and limits the germinal center response (Science Advances 2024)

• Voltammetry in the spleen assesses real-time anti-inflammatory norepinephrine release elicited by autonomic neurostimulation (J Neuroinflammation 2024)

• Development and characterization of a chronic implant mouse model for vagus nerve stimulation (eLife 2021)

• Implant- and anesthesia-related factors affecting cardiopulmonary threshold intensities for vagus nerve stimulation (J Neural Engineering 2021)

• Stimulation of the hepatoportal nerve plexus with focused ultrasound restores glucose homoeostasis in diabetic mice, rats and swine (Nature Biomedical Engineering 2022)

Stimulation of the vagus nerve (VNS) is used clinically in the treatment of epilepsy, depression, stroke rehabilitation and rheumatoid arthritis and explored as therapeutic option in several other neurological, inflammatory, metabolic, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular diseases. As VNS increases its therapeutic footprint, there is urgent need for more organ- and function-selective devices that target mechanisms specific to the affected organ(s). We develop and test neural interfaces and stimulation methods and technologies for precision neuromodulation guided by the anatomy and physiology of the vagus and other autonomic nerves, and their target organs.

• Control of spatiotemporal activation of organ-specific fibers in the swine vagus nerve by intermittent interferential current stimulation (Nature Communications 2025)

• Organ- and function-specific anatomical organization of vagal fibers supports fascicular vagus nerve stimulation (Brain Stimulation 2023)

• kHz-frequency electrical stimulation selectively activates small, unmyelinated vagus afferents (Brain Stimulation 2022)

• Strategies for precision vagus neuromodulation (Bioelectronic Medicine 2022)

• A fully implantable wireless bidirectional neuromodulation system for mice (Biosensors Bioelectronics 2022)

• Cortical responses to vagus nerve stimulation are modulated by brain state in nonhuman primates (Cerebral Cortex 2021)

• Quantitative estimation of nerve fiber engagement by vagus nerve stimulation using physiological markers (Brain Stimulation 2020)

• Anodal block permits directional vagus nerve stimulation (Scientific Reports 2020)

• Closed-loop neuromodulation in physiological and translational research (Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives Medicine 2018)

We investigate neuroimmune dysfunction in the context of diseases with autonomic, immune and metabolic dysfunction, with a focus on cardiovascular diseases like pulmonary hypertension, heart failure and arrhythmias. Furthermore, we test neuroimmune modulation therapies in preclinical disease models and in early-stage clinical studies.

• Low intensity trans-spinal focused ultrasound reduces mechanical sensitivity and suppresses spinal microglia activation in rats with chronic constriction injury (Bioelectronic Medicine 2025)

• Ultrasound neuromodulation of an anti-inflammatory pathway at the spleen improves experimental pulmonary hypertension (Circulation Research 2024)

• Vagus nerve stimulation for cardiovascular diseases: Is there light at the end of the tunnel? (Trends Cardiovascular Medicine 2023)

• Trans-spinal focused ultrasound suppresses spinal reflexes in healthy rats (Neuromodulation 2023)

• Focused ultrasound neuromodulation of the spleen activates an anti-inflammatory response in humans (Brain Stimulation 2023)

• Autonomic neuromodulation for atrial fibrillation following cardiac surgery (J American College Cardiology 2022)

• Pulmonary arterial hypertension: the case for a bioelectronic treatment (Bioelectronic Medicine 2019)

• Noninvasive sub-organ ultrasound stimulation for targeted neuromodulation (Nature Communications 2019)