My research explores the impact of autonomic dysfunction patients with chronic autoimmune disease, as exemplified with systemic lupus erythematosus. Such impacts may be increased fatigue, pain, and inflammation, and decreased quality of life, as well as cardiovascular and renal function. Further I explore the prospect of modulating the autonomic nervous system by transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation with the goal of reducing such impacts and ultimately reducing the use of immunosuppressive medication, which is expensive and holds many, potentially serious, side effects.