H.I. Ep. 130 - Dr. Kevin Tracey on Vagus Stimulation and Autoimmune Healing

Dr. Kevin J. Tracey, President and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research joins the podcasts to share his insights on the groundbreaking role of the vagus nerve in regulating inflammation and its implications for autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. Tracey explains how inflammation, while essential for healing, becomes problematic when uncontrolled—leading to chronic conditions. He introduces the concept of the “inflammatory reflex,” a neural pathway through the vagus nerve that can be harnessed to modulate immune responses. The episode highlights the FDA-approved SetPoint Therapy System, a non-drug, implantable vagus nerve stimulator that offers targeted relief without immunosuppression. Dr. Tracey discusses its clinical success, safety profile, and future applications in conditions such as multiple sclerosis, PTSD, and stroke rehabilitation. The conversation emphasizes the promise of bioelectronic medicine in transforming treatment paradigms for chronic inflammatory diseases. In the podcast interview, Dr. Kevin J. Tracey disclosed that he is a co-founder of SetPoint Medical, the company behind the FDA-approved vagus nerve stimulation device for rheumatoid arthritis 1. He also stated that he serves as a consultant to the company, assisting with its development and research initiatives 1. While he clarified that he is not privy to all future plans of the company, his dual role as both a researcher and company consultant is a relevant professional disclosure for listeners, especially those considering the therapy discussed. Find out more here: Personal Twitter: https://x.com/KevinJTraceyMD Personal Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinjtraceymd/ Feinstein Institutes: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-feinstein-institutes-for-medical-research Company website: https://feinstein.northwell.edu/ Dr. Tracey’s research profile: https://feinstein.northwell.edu/institutes-researchers/our-researchers/kevin-j-tracey-md Center for Bioelectronic Medicine website: https://www.northwell.edu/center-for-bioelectronic-medicine The Great Nerve (Amazon): https://a.co/d/7UbRR6C