A　novel　inerter-based　system,　namely　the　tuned　mass　damper　inerter　(TMDI),　is　proposed　to　control　the　VIV　of　the　main　deck　of　long-span　bridges.　An　applicable　layout　of　the　TMDI　inside　the　bridge　deck　is　introduced,　and　the　governing　equations　of　the　structure-TMDI　system　subjected　to　VIV　are　established.　The　optimization　of　the　TMDI　parameters　with　the　consideration　of　nonlinear　aeroelastic　effect　is　derived.　The　control　performance　and　robustness　of　the　proposed　system　are　investigated　through　an　analytical　case　study　in　both　the　time　and　frequency　domains.　It　is　observed　that　the　TMDI　system　can　obviously　reduce　the　VIV　responses　of　the　bridge　deck.　Moreover,　compared　to　the　conventional　TMD　system,　the　static　stretching　of　the　spring　due　to　gravity　and　the　oscillation　amplitude　of　the　mass　block　in　the　TMDI　system　are　significantly　reduced.　These　properties　make　the　proposed　TMDI　system　an　attractive　alternative　for　the　VIV　control　of　long-span　bridges.　©　IABSE　Young　Engineers　Colloquium　in　East　Asia　-　Proceedings.　All　rights　reserved.