Bioelectronic Medicine Therapy for Targeted Neuromodulation

The bioelectronic medicine team at GE Research are demonstrating potentially breakthrough non-invasive methods to regulate dysfunction in the body’s metabolic or inflammatory control systems using ultrasound. 

Bioelectric medicine involves the study of new methods to treat chronic diseases such as Arthritis, IBS and diabetes by using devices to address dysfunctions in the nervous system that are believed to be key contributing factors to these diseases. In the past, bioelectronic medicine research typically relied on implanted devices to stimulate nerves for therapeutic outcome. The GE Research team is demonstrating the use of a non-invasive ultrasound technique to stimulate nerve features directly within target organs in a very precise manner.

The technique uses focused ultrasound to target the innervation points and areas of specific synaptic connection and physiological function. This approach employs the natural hierarchical structure and organization of the nervous system, enabling precision neuromodulation with a noninvasive stimulation technology. Ultrasound modulation of two completely different organs and distinct physiological pathways (the CAP in the spleen and metabolic sensory neurons/cells in the liver) was achieved with the same technology.

Continued work will be needed to further explore the potential of precision ultrasound neuromodulation. The GE Research team’s initial results suggest that further investment and research into the use of ultrasound for peripheral neuromodulation is justified and will require increased collaboration between ultrasound device engineers and neuroscientists.

In addition to the preclinical studies the GE Research bioelectronic medicine is working on, the team is also working with DARPA on a $2.9 MM project to study new treatments for diabetes using similar non-invasive stimulation techniques with ultrasound. The findings published by the GE/Feinstein team in the Nature Communications article related to regulating blood glucose represent the first steps toward making this a future reality.