Hacking the Nervous System: A New Way to Fight Disease

What if we could tap into the body’s built-in communication system to fight disease? Dr. Cori Lathan, a pioneering neuroscientist, engineer, and tech innovator, is developing a groundbreaking method to stimulate the vagus nerve using embedded electrodes. This technology could reduce inflammation, activate the parasympathetic system, and transform the future of health and wellness. But innovation isn’t just about breaking barriers—it’s about finding new ways forward. Watch as Dr. Lathan shares her journey in STEM, her approach to problem-solving, and how she’s redefining what it means to be a woman in science and engineering.

Meet the women changing the face of STEM! The IF/THEN Collection, now proudly housed at the Museum of Science, Boston, is the world’s largest free digital library showcasing real, contemporary women in science, technology, engineering, and math. From groundbreaking researchers to space explorers, these role models prove that if she can see it, she can be it. Explore videos featuring behind-the-scenes interviews, and hands-on STEM inspiration for students, educators, and lifelong learners.

This project is funded by Lyda Hill Philanthropies.

Dr. Cori Lathan is a technology entrepreneur who has invented robots for kids with disabilities, virtual reality technology for the space station, and wearable sensors for training surgeons and soldiers. She is a global thought leader in the relationship between technology and human performance and believes in a future of benevolent cyborgs! Dr. Lathan is Co-Founder and CEO of AnthroTronix, Inc., a technology company focused on brain health. She has also started a new medical device company to replace medicine with a bioelectronic device that used electrical signals to treat disease and to keep us healthy. Dr. Cori has been featured in Forbes, Time, and the New Yorker magazines and her work has led to such distinctions as MIT Technology Review Magazine’s “Top 100 World Innovators,” and one of Fast Company Magazines “Most Creative People in Business.” Dr. Lathan received her B.A. in Biopsychology and Math from Swarthmore College, and an M.S. in Aero/Astro and Ph.D. in Neuroscience from M.I.T.

See the full IF/THEN Collection.