Dynamic Neurotech Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

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Key Moments:

0:00 Introduction

1:12 Journey from Electrical Engineering to Neuroscience

6:45 Initial Interest in Neuroscience 

8:16 What is connectomics?

11:45 Parallels Between Microchip Design and Neuroscience 

14:22 Probabilistic Reconstruction in Connectomics

19:46 Neurons Behaving Like Brain Regions In C. Elegans

22:17 Incorporating Biological Knowledge into Reconstruction Models and Techniques

25:47 Humans vs ML: Neuron Image Classification 

28:05 Future of Connectomics

31:20 Expansion Microscopy

33:19 Genetic Barcoding

34:25 Synchrotrons and X-Rays

34:56 Combining Techniques 

35:52 Connectomics: From Flies to Larvae Zebrafish - Optical Microscopy

37:19 Bee Neuroscience, Behavior, and Connectomics

40:03 Mouse Connectomics: Eventually Expansion and Exploration of More Complex Animal Brains

42:39 Any Possibility to Understand the Human Brain at this Level of Detail?

45:07 Tips for Breaking into Connectomics and Neuroscience 

50:50 Why are gap junctions hard to see?

53:48 Connectomics Applied to Neuromorphic Computing

55:07 Alcoholic Fruit Flies: Connectomics Applied to Human Medicine

58:03 Conclusion and Contact Info

Dr. Scheffer’s email: LouScheffer@gmail.com

Recorded: 3/20/2024

Host: Robert Murcko

Free Neurotech Newsletter: https://neurotechnologynews.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Key Moments:

0:00 Introduction

4:36 Initial Interest in Neurotechnology

7:34 Exploring Diverse Fields of Interest: Neuromorphic Computing, Brain-Machine Interface, Heliostat Fields, Military Applications

10:51 MEMS

14:52 Bio-compatiblity and Bio-mimetic Systems in Neurotech

18:12 Neuromorphic Computing in Brain-Computer Interfaces

22:14 Integrating Device Engineering with Computing in Post-Doc

24:19 Challenges in Data Storage and Processing

27:19 MEMS Experience Transferring to Semi-Conductor Fabrication

28:38 Neuromorphic Computing Strategy for Neural Implants

30:41 Water-based Resistive Switches for Neuromorphic Connections

34:03 Challenges of Applying New Thought Process to Designing Architectures

36:51 Back to Neural Interfaces: Transitioning from Academia to Industry

39:32 Working in Industry: Translation, Engineering vs Business

41:59 What Expertise Does Neurotechnology Need More Of?

44:32 Brain Modeling: Companies vs Research Labs

45:56 Getting Involved in Neurotech - Advice for Students: Ask Questions, Don’t Rely on Jargon

49:21 Future of Neurotech: Next 20 Years

51:27 Book Recommendation: Outlive by Peter Attia

52:25 Book Recommendation: Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman, Build by Tony Fadell, CEO Excellence by Dewar et al.

53:45 Conclusion and Contact Info

Dr. Akshay Ananthakrishnan’s LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshayy-91/

Recorded: 5/9/2024

Hosts: Robert Murcko & Yuqing Wang

Dr. Iris Brunner (PT, PhD) is an Associate Professor and Researcher at the University of Aarhus’ Hammel Neurocenter in Denmark.  She works in the domain of physiotherapy and neuro-rehabilitation. She is both a researcher and a clinician. Her areas of interest include upper limb motor recovery after stroke, technology-assisted rehabilitation, and life after stroke. Current projects include brain-computer interface training for patients, digital monitoring, and high intensity gait training. She also has a deep interest in clinical translation of research.  Our conversation mainly centers on the use of technology in neuro-rehab and stroke recovery. We also discuss what the future of neuro-rehab may look like and what aspects of various tools and technology are most useful for patients and clinicians. Recorded: March 14, 2024. Host: Robert Murcko

Key Moments: 

0:00 Introduction

1:38 Initial Interest in NeuroRehabilitation

3:20 What is NeuroRehabilitation?

6:22 Examples of Tech Applied to NeuroRehab

9:38 Spatial Neglect

12:01 Precision NeuroRehabilitation

17:23 Current State of Technology in NeuroRehab

19:50 Co-Design: Scaling Up Technology in NeuroRehab

24:00 BCI Research for Upper Limb Paresis After Stroke

28:15 Not There Yet with BCI: Future Directions

29:13 Regulators & Payment

30:40 Predictions for Applications of Technology to Clinical NeuroRehab

34:00 Focus on the End Users

34:50 Conclusion and Contact Info

Links:

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Dr. Brunner's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iris-brunner-83b91b73/

Ridge Biosignals: https://ridgebiosignals.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Interview with Dr. Joern Rickert. He is the CEO of Neudio, a non-invasive neurotechnology company focused on brain wave modulation and generating music from brainwaves, with the goal of improving mental well-being through personalized music experiences. This episode covers a wide range of interesting topics, where Dr. Rickert and I discuss: his background in neurotechnology and entrepreneurship from Cortec, the challenges and advantages of non-invasive vs. invasive neurotechnologies, the differences in signal processing, Neudio's 'closed-loop' approach to brain activity modulation, comparisons with other neurotechnology companies like Neurable, and future outlook for the company and the broader neurotechnology field. Recorded: May 2024. Host: Neil Raman

Key Moments:

0:00 Introduction

0:57 Beginnings of Neudio + Transition from Cortec

3:18 Advantages of Non-Invasive Technologies

5:12 Drawbacks with Invasive Technology

8:48 Non-Invasive Advantages with Neudio

13:06 Evolution of Signal Processing and Effects in the Neurotech Field

15:30 Signal Processing with Neudio

17:44 Future Impacts with Neudio

19:48 Differentiating Neudio from Alternative Solutions/Companies

24:42 Next Steps with Neudio

Links:

Free Neurotech Newsletter: https://neurotechnologynews.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Joern Rickert LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joern-rickert-3386231a/

Neil Raman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-raman21/

Neudio: https://www.neudio.com/

Ridge Biosignals: https://ridgebiosignals.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Kaustubh Deshpande is the Co-Founder of Eywa Neuro. He previously spent time as an engineer at Neuralink and NeuroNexus. In our conversation we discuss clinical translation, the neurotech startup space, running your own company, India’s neurotech ecosystem, the founding of Eywa Neuro, the future of Eywa Neuro, how to break into neurotech, and more! Recorded: January 15, 2024. Hosts: Robert Murcko and Yuqing Wang.

Key Moments:

0:00 Intro

8:13 Initial Interest in Neurotechnology

13:07 Clinical Translation Wisdom

16:39 Polyimide Trade Space

22:17 Building Your Own Company vs Working at a Startup

27:14 India’s Neurotech Ecosystem

32:07 Future of Eywa Neuro

34:47 Does neurotech need more experts from a certain domain?

38:58 How to break into neurotech

44:34 Future of Neurotech

50:27 Conclusion

Links

Free Neurotech Newsletter: https://neurotechnologynews.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Kaustubh Deshpande LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaustubh-deshpande-3931b8157/

Eywa Neuro: https://eywaneuro.com/

Ridge Biosignals: https://ridgebiosignals.beehiiv.com/subscribe

James Hamet has been working in AI and neurotech since his undergrad days.  He is a serial neurotech founder and has been deeply involved with both Neurable and Vistim Labs.  Our interview covers a range of topics: his early days in neurotech, lessons learned from his time at Neurable, an overview of Vistim’s products/tech, his vision for the future of the space (both short term and long term), the differences between going bootstrapped vs VC-funded, advice for founders, and more.  Recorded: March 7, 2024. Host: Robert Murcko.

Key Moments:

0:00 Intro

3:45 Initial Involvement in Neuroscience/Neurotech

7:29 Founding of Vistim Labs

10:30 Learnings from Neurable Inform Current Work

13:25 Venture Funding Pros/Cons

19:00 Vistim Labs Tech/Product

22:47 Vistim Labs Involvement w/ Research & Academia

25:47 Researchers are kind of like investors

26:23 Vistim Labs Competitors

31:01 Vistim Labs Short-Term Future

33:23 The Secret of All Business

35:10 Vistim Labs Long-Term Vision

40:50 Advice for Breaking Into Neurotech

44:50 The Future of Neurotech

48:57 Conclusion

Links

Free Neurotech Newsletter: https://neurotechnologynews.beehiiv.com/subscribe

James Hamet LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jchamet/

Ridge Neurotech: https://ridgeneurotech.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Interview with Yacine Achiakh.  He is the CEO and co-founder of Wisear, a company working on building the neural interface and human-machine interface platform technology of the future.  Their goal is to enable people to have seamless, voiceless, and touchless control over their everyday devices.  Their first application of this technology is earbuds outfitted with electrodes that can pick up biosignals (EEG, EMG, EOG, etc.) and convert them into control signals for various devices.  This episode is jam-packed with interesting and useful information from start to finish. 

Yacine and I talk for over an hour discussing a range of topics like: his career journey before founding Wisear, quitting his job to start the company, inspiration from Neuralink, scrappy early stage building & prototyping, development of Wisear’s technology stack, techniques to reduce electromagnetic noise, strategic decisions to get their product into more hands, the value of collecting data, hardware agnostic technology frameworks, possible research partnerships, neural interfaces & human-machine interfaces of the future, the changing form factors of our devices & interactions with technology, advice for students, advice for founders, the interconnected neurotech community, why its hard to bootstrap in neurotech, why its useful to raise a large first round of venture capital funding in neurotech, short term future of neurotechnology, long term future of neurotechnology, and neurotech’s upcoming eventual “GenAI moment.”

At the conclusion of the episode, Yacine gives a brief demonstration of Wisear’s technology and discusses opportunities to become part of Wisear’s alpha testing group, beta testing group, or the broader community that they are working to build. Recorded March 28, 2024. Host: Robert Murcko

Key Moments:

0:00 Introduction

3:00 Initial Interest in Neurotechnology/Neuroscience

4:04 Inspiration from Neuralink (SF Soccer Game)

7:55 Wisear’s Founding

8:49 Quitting Job and Scrappy Tinkering

10:24 Human-Machine Interface: Control

11:42 Early Prototype

12:47 Early Funding and Hiring a Small Team

13:54 Product and Technology Overview

20:32 Neural Interface Platform Tech: Form Agnostic (Earphones, Glasses, etc.)

21:47 A Community of Users

23:02 Wisear Silent Speech Controls

25:51 Use Cases of Wisear’s Existing Products and Technology

30:18 Wisear Applications in Augmented Reality

33:15 Neurotech CEO: Day-to-Day

38:02 Background in AI and Management at Criteo Informing Wisear

43:07 Wisear’s Competitors and the Vibrant Neurotech Community

46:37 Next Steps and Future Vision for Wisear

50:25 Advice for Breaking Into Neurotech

54:49 Advice for Neurotech Founders

58:13 Neurotechnology Predictions

1:00:52 Wisear Demo

1:03:38 Conclusion

Free Neurotechnology Newsletter: https://neurotechnologynews.beehiiv.com/subscribe 

Wisear Website: https://www.wisear.io/ 

Yacine Achiakh’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yacineachiakh/

Robert Murcko’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-murcko/

Interview with VCU Bioengineering Research Scientist Dr. Geetanjali Bendale.  Some of the topics we discuss include her current work in nerve repair and regeneration, her past work in bioelectronics/neurotechnology, translating basic science into the clinic, partnerships with surgeon scientists, the future of neurotech, and advice for students looking to get into this space. Recorded January 15, 2024. Host: Robert Murcko

Key Moments:

0:00 Introduction

6:38 Initial Interest in Neuroscience?

7:18 Dreams of Being a Surgeon

9:53 Amazed by the Details of Neurobiology

12:43 Neuromodulation w/ Miniature Wireless Stimulator for Small Peripheral Nerves

16:18 Direct Vagus Nerve to Spleen Communication Discovered

20:56 Nerve Tape: Sutureless Coaptation Device to Repair Peripheral Nerve Defects

29:43 Neuromuscular Repair - Current Research Focus and Future Directions

34:20 Autograft vs Allograft

37:05 Predictions for the Future of Neurotechnology

43:57 Tips for Students Looking to Build a Career in Neurotech

47:44 Conclusion and Contact Information

Free Neurotech Newsletter: https://neurotechnologynews.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Dr. Bendale’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geetanjali-bendale-1844a834/

Interview with Greg Alden. He is the CEO of Diagnostic Biochips – a company providing high fidelity research tools to neuroscientists for electrophysiology and more.  He spent the early years of his career optimizing data communications to solve big problems in the domains of broadband and mobile communications.  He now brings this set of useful expertise to the neurotech world.  We have a conversation talking about everything from the future of neurotechnology innovation, Greg’s journey into the field (in part sparked by his diagnosis with a neurological condition), management principles for a technical organization, and more! Recorded January 16, 2024. Hosts: Robert Murcko and Yuqing Wang.

Key Moments

0:00 Intro

1:54 Parkinson’s Diagnosis

3:06 Applying Tech to Neuro Problems

4:08 Brain as a Distributed Computing Networking Function

5:03 Interest in Neuroscience

7:14 Involvement with Diagnostic Biochips

9:46 Commercialization of Diagnostic Biochips’ Products

11:30 Transitioning from Telecom to Neurotech

14:03 Market Landscape and Diagnostic Biochips’ Place In It

17:21 From Idea Stage through Go-to-Market

21:20 Advice for Academics Looking to Translate Their Technology

23:59 Technical vs. Business Priorities

26:29 Diagnostic Biochips’ Products and Offerings

29:28 Cloud-Based Analysis Platform

35:24 Diagnostic Biochips Contributions to the Field of Neuroscience

40:03 Advice for Getting Involved with Neurotech

42:23 The Future of Neurotechnology

46:42 Conclusion and Contact Information

Links

Free Neurotech Newsletter:

https://neurotechnologynews.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Diagnostic Biochips: https://diagnosticbiochips.com/

Greg’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregjalden/

Interview with Dr. Matthew Wall. He is a neuroscientist, psychologist, and fMRI (brain imaging) specialist with Imperial College London and Invicro (a CRO focused on medical imaging). His research has explored the domains of neuropsychopharmacology, addiction, psychedelics, cannabis, sex hormones, pain, weight loss, and much more.  We discuss Dr. Wall’s journey into the field, his recent projects, innovations in fMRI & medical imaging, how AI is going to change everything, and the future of neurotech.  Recorded January 11, 2024. Host: Robert Murcko  

Key Moments

0:00 Intro

3:56 What are you working on now? (Sex, Cannabis, Psychedelics, and more)

15:26 Scientific Theories Behind Psychedelic Applications in Mental Health

19:18 FDA and Psychedelics

20:36 Innovations in fMRI Imaging Over the Years

24:50 Contribution of AI to fMRI and Neuroimaging Innovation

26:53 Background on Data Streams an fMRI Scanner Provides

29:14 PETxfMRI & EEGxfMRI

32:25 fMRI Brain-Computer Interfaces

35:16 Related modalities: fNIRS, MEG

36:12 Minimizing fMRI and why its so large

37:49 Bedside fMRI

38:11 Predictions for the Future of Neurotech and fMRI

45:21 Conclusion and Contact Information

Links

Free Neurotech Newsletter: https://neurotechnologynews.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Dr. Wall’s Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/mbwall