Feinstein Institutes' Tracey Wins AANS Cushing Award for Bioelectronic Medicine Breakthroughs
Event summary
- Dr. Kevin J. Tracey, president and CEO of Feinstein Institutes, received the 2026 AANS Cushing Award for Technical Excellence and Innovation in Neurosurgery.
- Tracey holds 120 U.S. patents and has authored 400 scientific publications, pioneering the field of bioelectronic medicine.
- His work led to the first FDA-approved vagus nerve stimulation device for rheumatoid arthritis, commercialized by SetPoint Medical.
- The award was presented during the AANS 2026 Annual Meeting in San Antonio, TX, from May 1-4.
The big picture
The Cushing Award highlights the growing intersection of neuroscience and immunology, with bioelectronic medicine emerging as a disruptive force in treating chronic diseases. Tracey’s work positions the Feinstein Institutes as a leader in this niche, potentially attracting partnerships and investment. The FDA approval of SetPoint Medical’s device marks a critical validation of the field’s commercial viability.
What we're watching
- Commercialization Pace
- How quickly SetPoint Medical and other partners can scale Tracey’s bioelectronic medicine innovations into market-ready therapies.
- Industry Adoption
- Whether the neurosurgery field will broadly embrace bioelectronic medicine as a standard treatment modality.
- Regulatory Pathways
- The pace at which the FDA and other regulators approve additional bioelectronic medicine devices beyond rheumatoid arthritis.
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