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| An illustration of how neuromodulation devices work--Courtesy of DARPA (click to see full version) |
ElectRx, DARPA's Electrical Prescriptions program, put out a call Thursday for research proposals to develop neuromodulation capabilities that will "maximize the immunological, physical and mental health" of military service members and veterans.
Neuromodulation isn't new to the medical device world, but it is one of the industry's segments with the most potential to grow. It involves the electrical stimulation of the spinal cord, brain or a peripheral nerve to alleviate pain.
Several companies are working on neuromodulation devices, and Medtronic ($MDT) is leading the charge, using deep brain stimulation to treat Parkinson's disease. ElectRx wants to hurry this process along, and hopes that future neuromodulation therapies will promote self-healing, reduce dependence on traditional drugs and provide new treatment options for illnesses.
According to the release, neuromodulation devices are currently used as a last resort because of their size--about that of a deck of cards--and because they have to be surgically implanted. They also tend to cause side effects because of their "lack of precision."
Many chronic inflammatory diseases and mental health conditions that affect military service members and veterans involve abnormal activity in the peripheral nervous system, ElectRx said in the release. It wants to transform neuromodulation from a last-ditch solution, used when all else has failed, to a first choice treatment. To do so, ElectRx wants to develop new technologies that can target peripheral nerves and help patients restore and maintain their health without surgery or drugs.
"Many chronic illnesses occur when the body's natural neuroelectrical and biochemical rhythms are disrupted, like playing wrong notes in music," said Doug Weber, DARPA program manager. "ElectRx seeks to understand what the 'right notes' are for each person and provide real-time treatment to help the patient achieve and enjoy a harmonious, healthy baseline."
In support of the White House's BRAIN Initiative, ElectRx aims to improve understanding of specific neural circuits and their roles in health and disease, and to do it quickly. It envisions the creation of "ultraminiaturized" devices that could be injected into the body, and would target specific neural circuits that control organ functions
ElectRx's research primarily focuses on peripheral neuromodulation treatments for inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease, and mental health disorders, like PTSD, anxiety and depression. DARPA expects proposers to choose a disease to study and treat. It will hold a Proposers' Day on Tuesday, Dec. 16 at the Capitol Conference Center in Arlington, VA.
- here's the release
Special Report: So far, just 4 companies have a shot at winning the neuromodulation race - Cyberonics - St. Jude Medical - Boston Scientific - Medtronic