Stress
When stress shifts the body towards “fight or flight”, the nerves that control the gut respond too.
Prototype in progress · Founding Community now open
Founded by an NHS gastroenterologist and a clinical neuroscientist
Restoring the conversation between gut and brain.
CortiAura is developing a non-invasive wearable that works with the body’s own gut–brain connection. It is being engineered to recognised medical device safety standards and guided by science.
Development · Step 2 of 5Prototype engineering
With a UK medical device partner
With a UK medical device partner
RecognitionRanked top 15%
Blue Sky PoC Fund applications
Blue Sky PoC Fund applications
Non-invasiveNo implantsDrug-free
3
Medical device standards designed in from day one
Top 15%
Ranked in a UK-wide neurotech programme, powered by ARIA
~80%
Of vagus nerve fibres carry signals from body to brain
0
Implants or drugs. Working from outside the body
Our missionDr Prashant Bhand and Dr Ratnakar Mishra, founders
We bring everyday clinical experience in gastroenterology together with deep expertise in neuroscience, to build safe, non-invasive technology that works with the body’s own gut–brain connection.
The gut–brain connection
Your gut, your brain and your stress response are more connected than you think.
Feeling stressed can unsettle your stomach, and an unsettled gut can affect your mood, energy and sleep. Science is showing how closely the digestive system and the nervous system work together.
Sleep
Poor sleep and an unsettled gut often go together.
Digestion
How your gut feels can affect your mood and wellbeing.
The science
The vagus nerve connects gut and brain.
The gut and brain are in constant two-way communication, and the vagus nerve is the main line between them. CortiAura’s approach is to work with this pathway non-invasively, from outside the body, with no implants and no drugs.
Vagus nerve. The longest cranial nerve, running from the brainstem to the abdomen. Most of its fibres carry signals from the body up to the brain.
From the outside
Working with the body non-invasively, through the skin. No surgery and no implants.
With the vagus pathway
Designed around the body’s own gut–brain connection. Drug-free by design.
Guided by evidence
Developed by an NHS gastroenterologist and a clinical neuroscientist, and tested against recognised standards.
Want the full picture? Read: What is the gut–brain axis? →
Why CortiAura
A new kind of wearable, built differently.
Clinical insight, neuroscience and medical-grade engineering, combined from day one.
Clinician-led
Founded where the problem is.
Led by an NHS gastroenterologist who sees the limits of today’s options in clinic every week.
Non-invasive
No implants. No drugs.
Working with the body from the outside.
Evidence-led
Referenced, not hyped.
Guided by research and referenced to NHS, NICE and peer-reviewed science.
Safety-first engineering
Standards from the first prototype.
Being designed to ISO 13485, ISO 14971 and IEC 60601 with an experienced UK medical device engineering team.
Clinic meets lab
Two disciplines, side by side.
An NHS gastroenterologist and a clinical neuroscientist with postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge.
Built safely, built to standard
Safety designed in from day one, not added later.
We are designing CortiAura to recognised medical device safety standards from the very first prototype. That is the highest bar, whatever route to market we take.
ISO 13485Quality managementISO 14971Risk managementIEC 60601Electrical safety- 1Complete
Concept and science
Scientific basis established.
- 2In progress
Prototype engineering
With an experienced UK medical device team.
- 3Next
Safety and bench testing
Verification against recognised standards.
- 4Designed
Early safety study
Safety and feasibility with clinical collaborators.
- 5Planned
Launch readiness
Founding members hear first.
Recognition · Oct 2026Top 15%
Ranked in the top 15% of a UK-wide neurotech programme.
Our proposal to the Blue Sky Proof-of-Concept Fund, run by Cambridge NeuroWorks and powered by ARIA, was ranked in the top 15% of applications.
Progress update · October 2026
All news →Latest from CortiAura
Recognition
Top 15% in a UK neurotech programme
Ranked in the top 15% of applications to the Blue Sky Proof-of-Concept Fund.
ProductPrototype development underway
An experienced UK medical device engineering team is taking CortiAura from concept to working prototype.
ClinicalEarly safety study designed
An early study focused on safety and feasibility, with clinical and academic partnerships in progress.
CommunityFounding Community now open
Priority access and an exclusive founding-member discount when we launch. Free to join.
Join now →The team
Founded by a clinician who sees the problem every week.
CortiAura brings together everyday clinical experience in gastroenterology and deep expertise in neuroscience to develop safe, non-invasive technology built around the gut–brain connection.
Founder & CEO
Dr Prashant Bhand
NHS gastroenterologist with 9–10 years’ experience in gastroenterology. Postgraduate qualification in AI and machine learning.
Co-founder
Dr Ratnakar Mishra
Clinical neuroscientist. PhD, University of Göttingen; postdoctoral research, University of Cambridge.
For clinics
Help shape the future of gut–brain care.
We are inviting a small group of UK clinics to become founding clinic partners. There is no cost and no commitment.
Clinics that see the gut–brain connection every day
- Private gastroenterology
- Functional and integrative medicine
- Wellness and lifestyle clinics
- Private GP and multi-specialty groups
What founding clinic partners receive
- Early, plain-English research summaries
- Clinical input into how CortiAura fits clinic workflows
- Invitations to future pilot studies, where suitable and approved
- Priority consideration for early access once available
How it works
- Register interestA short form, two minutes.
- Welcome and evidence updateWe send what we know so far.
- A call when it’s relevantWhen a suitable opportunity comes up.
CortiAura is not yet available for clinical use or sale.
Investors · Pre-seed open
Building the next generation of gut–brain neurotechnology.
A clinician-led company, built to de-risk.
Clinician-foundedLed by an NHS gastroenterologist.
Standards from the first prototypeBeing designed to ISO 13485, ISO 14971 and IEC 60601.
Technology under NDATechnical details shared with qualified investors under NDA.
Flexible route to marketOptions kept open as evidence builds.
Progress so far
- Concept and scientific basis established
- Ranked top 15% in the Cambridge NeuroWorks Blue Sky PoC Fund
- UK engineering partner engaged, prototype underway
- Early safety study designed
- Regulatory roadmap in place
- Founding Community launched
What this round will fund
Prototype completionSafety and bench testingEarly safety and feasibility studyIP protection
Information only. Not an offer to buy shares. Early-stage investing carries a risk of total loss.
Clinicians and researchers
Get in touch →Collaborate on the evidence.
We are looking for clinical and academic partners in gastroenterology and neuroscience for our early safety and feasibility study and beyond.
From the blog
All 8 articles →The gut–brain connection, explained.
Evidence-based articles by an NHS gastroenterologist, referenced to NHS, NICE and peer-reviewed research.
Our science content is referenced toNHSNICENature Reviews NeuroscienceFrontiers in NeuroscienceScientific Reports
Your questions, answered
Good questions deserve clear answers.
Every answer is referenced to NHS, NICE or peer-reviewed research.
Still curious?
Email Prashant@cortiaura.com
Email Prashant@cortiaura.com
What is the gut–brain axis?
The gut–brain axis is the two-way communication network between your digestive system and your brain. It works through nerves, gut hormones, the immune system and signals from gut microbes. It helps explain why stress can upset your stomach, and why how your gut feels can affect your mood and wellbeing.[1]
What does the vagus nerve do?
The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve, running from the brainstem down through the chest to the abdomen, including the gut. It is the main nerve of the parasympathetic nervous system, which supports the body’s “rest and digest” state. Around 80% of its fibres carry information from the body to the brain.[2]
How does stress affect the gut?
When you are stressed, your body shifts towards “fight or flight”. The nerves that control the gut respond too, which can change how it moves and how sensitive it feels. NHS guidance notes that stress and anxiety can trigger or worsen gut symptoms in some people.[1][3]
What is non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation?
Vagus nerve stimulation uses gentle electrical signals to stimulate the vagus nerve. Implanted stimulators have been used in epilepsy care for more than 20 years. Non-invasive approaches work through the skin, at the neck or the ear, with no surgery; one such device is recommended by NICE for cluster headache. A 2022 review of ear-based stimulation studies found side effects were generally mild and short-lived. Research into other uses is ongoing.[4][5][6]
Can I buy CortiAura yet?
Not yet. CortiAura is in development. Join our Founding Community and we will let you know about our progress and when CortiAura becomes available.
References
- Mayer EA. Gut feelings: the emerging biology of gut–brain communication. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 2011;12:453–466.
- Bonaz B, Bazin T, Pellissier S. The vagus nerve at the interface of the microbiota–gut–brain axis. Frontiers in Neuroscience 2018;12:49.
- NHS inform. IBS and your mental health. NHS Scotland.
- NICE. Vagus nerve stimulation for refractory epilepsy in children (IPG50). 2004.
- NICE. gammaCore for cluster headache (MTG46). 2019.
- Kim AY, Marduy A, de Melo PS, et al. Safety of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS): a systematic review and meta-analysis. Scientific Reports 2022;12:22055.
The CortiAura Founding Community
Be among the first.
Follow the journey from the very beginning. It takes 30 seconds, with no payment and no obligation.
- Priority accessFirst in line when CortiAura is available.
- Founding-member discountAn exclusive discount on your first purchase.
- Behind-the-scenes updatesOccasional news from the lab and the team.
- Help shape CortiAuraShort, optional surveys.
1Join for free2Follow the journey3Share your views4First access at launch
Get in touchEmail usPrashant@cortiaura.comContact formQuestions and collaborationsRegister your clinicBecome a founding clinic partnerRequest the investor deckPre-seed round openWe usually reply within two working days. Not for medical advice.