Neuro-immunity

The neural system controle immunity in a directly integrated fashion, studies on electrical stimulation of the autonomic nerves ameliorate chronic inflammatory disease conditions as RA and IBD

Nerve stimulation in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

The autonomic nervous system has a significant impact on immune responses. We study the effect of electrical or pharmacological stimulation of nerves to help reduce excess immune responses in IBD, and chronic inflamed mucosa such as in fistulizing Crohns disease. We even study neural input to the intestinal crypt where this affects wound healing, or helps to recover from intestinal surgery. This research will help our understanding of the mechanism of neuronal regulation of intestinal inflammation and can lead to major paradigm shift in common medication for IBD. For instance, we have designed electrical stimulators that wrap around the nerve bundles, for implantation. Together with our collaborator Dr Misha Lyuer, surgeon, working in Catherina Hospital in Eindhoven, we test such devices on patients.

Literature on bioelectronics

Alliance with GlaxoSmithKline and Galvani Bioelectronics

The bioelectronics study is a joined project with the Research and Development Department of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in the United Kingdom.