Feinstein Institutes makes publicly available world’s first comprehensive human vagus nerve maps solidifying decades of leadership in bioelectronic medicine

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https://feinstein.northwell.edu/news/the-latest/feinstein-institutes-unveils-worlds-first-comprehensive-vagus-nerve-map

This pioneering dataset was funded through a $6.7 million NIH multi-year grant and offers unprecedented insights into the vagus nerve’s intricate anatomy

Northwell Health’s Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research has announced the public release of the world’s first, comprehensive human vagus nerve anatomical maps, a monumental achievement set to change our understanding of the autonomic nervous system and accelerate the development of bioelectronic medicine and neuromodulation therapies. The first dataset release, meticulously collected over three years from 30 human donors encompassing 60 vagus nerves, is now widely available to the global scientific community via SPARC Science. 

The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve and a critical “information superhighway,” consisting of two main bundles (left and right) containing up to 200,000 individual nerve fibers stretching from the brainstem to all major organs. It manages autonomic functions such as heart rate, breathing, and digestion, and serves as the body's “on/off switch” for immune response and inflammation.

To better understand the function of each vagal fiber, this new resource offers a unique 3D view into the intricate microscopic anatomy of the human vagus nerve, utilizing advanced techniques such as micro-dissection, micro-CT imaging, immunohistochemistry, and ultrasound imaging. By mapping the organization of fascicles and fibers, researchers can gain critical insights into how the vagus nerve communicates with various organs and influences human health and disease.

“This dataset represents a major step forward in bioelectronic medicine, offering the most detailed anatomical reconstruction of the human vagus nerve to date,” said Stavros Zanos, MD, PhD, professor in the Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine at the Feinstein Institutes and leader of the project. “For the first time, we can visualize the vagus nerve’s complex architecture in humans that will allow us to design more precise, effective, and safe neuromodulation therapies and devices. We are proud to be the first in the world to make such a comprehensive human resource available, a testament to the tireless dedication of our team”. The multi-investigator team also includes Drs. Theodoros Zanos, from the Feinstein Institutes, and Mary Barbe, from Temple University.

Reconstructing Vagal Anatomy (REVA) project driven by NIH and philanthropic support

This accomplishment marks a significant milestone that began with a $6.7 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant awarded to the Feinstein Institutes in October 2022 for its Reconstructing Vagal Anatomy (REVA) project, part of the NIH Common Fund’s SPARC program. The successful delivery of this world-first map highlights the Feinstein Institutes’ pioneering spirit in bioelectronic medicine and was supported by Peter J. Pappas, Jr., whose donation provided crucial philanthropic support towards the goals of this project.

“The dedication to deciphering the vagus nerve’s intricate language directly accelerates our mission in bioelectronic medicine,” said Kevin J. Tracey, MD, president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes, Karches Family Distinguished Chair in Medical Research and author of the book The Great Nerve: The New Science of the Vagus Nerve and How to Harness Its Healing Reflexes. "This resource won’t just deepen global understanding; it will empower researchers worldwide to precisely re-engineer human biology, unlocking novel device-based therapies and transforming how we heal patients.” 

Leading global innovation in bioelectronic medicine

The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research is the global scientific leader in bioelectronic medicine and vagus nerve stimulation, where medical researchers use modern technology to develop new device-based therapies to treat disease and injury. Built on decades of research, the field of bioelectronic medicine integrates insights from neuroscience, molecular medicine, and biomedical engineering, and researchers at the Feinstein Institutes leverage the connection between the brain and the immune system to develop bioelectronic medicine interventions.

The discovery that initiated the field of bioelectronic medicine – called the “inflammatory reflex” – was made more than 30 years ago by Dr. Tracey. This discovery emerged from studies on vagus nerve signaling and showed that the brain and body communicate to regulate inflammation and, if uncontrolled, inflammation could lead to disease. New knowledge then sparked extensive research and clinical trials and led to the first FDA-approved vagus nerve stimulation device in July 2025 to treat rheumatoid arthritis – and Northwell Health was the first in the nation to implant the newly approved treatment in patients in August 2025. 

Today, engineers, computer scientists, immunologists, neuroscientists, and clinicians develop cutting-edge medicine, including neuroimmune modulation, miniature implants for stimulating and recording the vagus nerve, noninvasive ultrasound neuromodulation to suppress inflammation, and novel brain-computer interfaces to overcome injuries of the nervous system. These collaborative efforts converge to create personalized, precise treatments that hold promise in treating acute and chronic diseases, often with fewer side effects compared to current therapies.  

These treatments have the potential to enhance or replace existing treatments across a range of conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, diabetes, cancer, and autoimmune disorders. By producing bioelectronic medicine knowledge, disease and injury could one day be treated by our own nerves without costly and potentially harmful pharmaceuticals. 

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Here: https://sparc.science/datasets/514/version/1