Episode Details

In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with Dr. Şiyar Bahadır, neurosurgeon and Elmezzi Scholar at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, to explore the cutting edge of neuroscience, bioelectronic medicine, and the powerful role of the vagus nerve in regulating nearly every organ system in the body.

Dr. Bahadır shares his journey from the operating room to advanced research, explains how mapping the brain and nervous system is revolutionizing patient outcomes, and dives into groundbreaking therapies using electrical stimulation to treat inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.

The conversation also uncovers how the brain reorganizes itself after trauma, the future of precision neurosurgery, and why the vagus nerve may hold the key to an entirely new form of medicine.

Key Takeaways

• The vagus nerve acts as a central communication highway between the brain and major organs
• How bioelectronic medicine uses electrical stimulation instead of drugs to treat disease
• Real-world success of vagus nerve stimulation for rheumatoid arthritis (now FDA approved)
• Why mapping neural networks improves surgical precision and recovery
• The brain’s ability to reorganize itself (plasticity) after injury or surgery
• How AI and advanced imaging are shaping the future of neurosurgery

Guest Information

Dr. Şiyar Bahadır
Neurosurgeon | Elmezzi Scholar | Feinstein Institute for Medical Research

📧 Email: sbahadir@northwell.edu
🔗 LinkedIn: Şiyar Bahadır

Resources Mentioned

• The Great Nerve by Dr. Kevin Tracy (on the vagus nerve and bioelectronic medicine)

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