In this episode of the Neural Implant Podcast, host Ladan speaks with David McMillan, the Director of Education Outreach for the Miami Project and a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Miami. They discuss the Miami Project's work, particularly in spinal cord injury research and neuroprosthetics. Topics include clinical trials, combining therapies, regulatory challenges, and the importance of rehabilitation in conjunction with therapeutic technologies.

00:00 Introduction to the Neural Implant Podcast 00:16 Meet David McMillan: Director of Education Outreach 01:07 The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis 03:36 Clinical Trials and Patient Recruitment 08:01 Innovative Neurostimulation Projects 20:54 Challenges and Future of Neuromodulation 24:17 Role of Director of Education and Outreach 28:21 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

I n this episode of the Neural Implant Podcast, host Ladan welcomes Javier Schandy and Nicolas Barabino from Focus, an engineering services company based in Uruguay. They discuss their work in firmware, hardware, and software development for medical devices, emphasizing their specialization in wireless communications and test automation. 

They also explain the benefits of contract engineering, the challenges they face, and highlight an exciting project involving an injectable neurostimulator. The conversation covers the history of neurotechnology development in Uruguay, the process and dynamics of working with clients, and the adaptability and innovative spirit of their company.

00:00 Introduction to the Neural Implant Podcast 00:18 Meet the Guests: Javier Shandy and Nicholas Barabino 01:05 Focus: Engineering Services in Medical Devices 02:58 Project Onboarding and Development Process 06:06 Specialties and Expertise in Neurotechnology 09:38 The Journey into Medical Devices 13:41 Uruguay's Legacy in Medical Devices 20:37 Challenges and Advice for Startups 23:05 Flexible Project Management and Cost Considerations 27:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Dr. Gene Fridman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and also has appointments with the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. His research is in the areas of bioinstrumentation and neural engineering.

In this episode we talk about his freeform nerual stimulator which allows for DC and any other waveforms without any electrolytic effects on the electrodes. This opens up many possibilities for neural stimulation. We also talk about his startup Aidar which is like a 'tricorder' all-in-one medical diagnostic tool.

This podcast is sponsored by CEITEC Nano, check out their Neurotech Device Manufacturing Capabilities here

Top 3 Takeaways:

• "The reason why they have to use pulses at the metal electrodes is that if you deliver electrical current for too long to a metal electrode that is implanted in the body, what you're going to get is you're going to get electrochemistry, the first thing that will happen is you're going to start forming bubbles because you're going to split water. It's electrolysis. So you clearly don't want to do that in the body. They have to use pulses charge balanced by phasic pulses otherwise, you're going to have these electrons jump across and cause chemical reactions"

• "By introducing hyperpolarizing current to the peripheral nerve what we're seeing is it's affecting the small caliber neurons much more so, which carry pain much more so than the larger neurons that carry other information. And so we're able to block pain at the peripheral nerve. We didn't know about this. It was a surprise to us."

•  

0:45 "Do you want to introduce yourself better than I just did?"

3:00 Do you want to talk about your device able to talk to both ions and electrons in neurotech?

7:00 Was a DC bridge rectifier the inspiration for this?

9:15 What is possible with these new waveforms?

15:15 "How big is it? And why does it need to be that size?"

21:45 CEITEC Nano Ad Sponsorship

22:15 Do you want to talk about your startup company, Aidar?

24:30 Are you doing any nerve stuff with the 'tricorder?'

26:30 How are you able to manage the time with the startup?

27:45 How did you get the project's initial data?

Lloyd Diamond is the CEO of Pixium Vision. Dry age-related macular degeneration affects millions of people globally. Using an insertable implant in the eye in combination with lenses, central vision focus can be regained. In this episode, Lloyd Diamond discusses how Pixium Vision is creating a solution to dry age-related macular degeneration.

 

Top three takeaways: 

1. There is a dry and wet form of age-related macular degeneration. The dry form makes up 80% of all cases.
2. The degeneration begins in the center of the eye and then migrates to the periphery at the age of 60-65. 
3. The implant is no thicker than a human hair and contains 378 independent electrodes on it, activated by light. 

 

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Lloyd Diamond.  

 

[1:50] Diamond explains the need for a device like the PRIMA system. 

 

[4:00] The macular degeneration (AMD) targets the central vision portion of the retina, making it difficult to read or recognize faces. 

 

[7:00] The retinal surgery recovery time is four weeks. After this, the activation and rehabilitation process begins. 

 

[9:30] A pair of lenses that houses a camera are used in combination with the implant.  

 

[11:45] The entire event of observance to signal processing occurs in microseconds, so the user is unaware of the reaction time of the device.   

 

[16:00] Their new data proves that using clear glasses and the implant, it is possible to read as small as size eight font. This demonstrates seven lines of improvement on an ETDRS chart. 

 

[19:00] Diamond discusses the history of Pixium.  

 

[21:30] Due to the difficulty in regulatory approval for these types of implants, AMD research is not as common as retinitis pigmentosa. 

 

[25:00] The ability to be independent and recognize family members' faces makes the rehabilitation time and procedure appealing to the aged population.  

 

[27:20] The future goal is to sell in Europe first and then bring devices to the US using FDA approval.    

Renee Ryan is the CEO and Dr. Kate Roosenbluth is the founder, CSO, and member of the board of directors for Cala Health.  The company creates bioelectronic neuromodulation devices to mitigate the effects of chronic diseases. In this episode, Renee Ryan and Dr. Kate Rosenbluth discuss how the Cala Trio device controls essential tremors. 

 

Top three takeaways: 

1.  The Cala Trio device uses the nerve circuitry of the body to calm tremors by stimulating a part of the brain through the wrist. 
2.  Accelerometer sensors in each of the devices assess the efficacy of each use. 
3.  There is a digital screen on the watch that displays time, length of session, and tasks. 

 

 

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guests, Renee Ryan and Dr. Kate Rosenbluth.  

 

[4:50] Dr. Kate Rosenbluth explains the history of the company and its goals.  

 

[7:00] The wearable device goes on the user's wrist to stimulate the ventral intermediate nucleus in the brain. 

 

[9:00] The essential tremors are characterized by action tremors in the hands, which makes daily tasks incredibly difficult.  

 

[13:40] Cala Health plans to accomplish more wrist-based projects to help mitigate other chronic diseases. 

 

[16:30] Renee Ryan explains her transition from investor to CEO at Cala Health. 

 

[19:30] The demand for the Cala Trio device was so great that the clinical trials were fully enrolled within 6 weeks.  

 

[22:30] Due to the wristband having dry electrodes, the band needs to be replaced every 90 days. 

 

 [25:20] A new device trial has started that includes a new band technology.

Iain McIntyre is the CEO and co-founder of Humm. Humm creates devices such as the Bioelectric Memory Patch that use electricity to stimulate the brain. The disposable forehead device has shown to cause an increase in brain functionality and memory. 

In this episode, Iain McIntyre discusses how the Humm Bioelectric Memory Patch provides a brain-boost. 

 

Top three takeaways: 

1. When this device improves your working memory, it is improving your capabilities to focus, multitask, and acquire new skills. 
2. The Humm Bioelectric Memory Patch brings neuromodulation to a cheaper and smaller design compared to traditional devices. 
3. The benefits of use compound over time; even in the beginning stages, 15 minutes of use could provide up to two hours of mental performance improvement. 

 

 

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Iain McIntyre.  

 

[2:50] The Bioelectric Memory Patch device works by delivering tACS to stimulate the prefrontal cortex and improve working memory.

 

[5:00] The research studies done at Berkeley showed that users of the patch had a 20% increase in working memory effectiveness.  

 

[8:20] McIntyre describes it as a compound interest transaction, the more the patch is used, the greater the benefits each time. 

 

[11:10] Humm can provide results in a safe manner where there are rarely side effects due to the low amount of current. 

 

[14:00] While trials and data collection currently assess healthy users; in the future, the project will be used to help with neurological diseases. 

 

[17:00] Interestingly, the test groups that were found to have the most need for such a device are college students and the elderly. 

 

[21:10] With a 15-minute session, you can achieve an hour and a half of noticeable brain activity improvement.  

 

Dr. Sangeeta Chavan is a professor at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. In September of 2020, the Feinstein Institutes hosted its fourth annual Bioelectronic Medicine Summit located in New York. In this episode, Dr. Sangeeta Chavan discusses the key takeaways of the summit. 

 

Top three takeaways: 

1. Bioelectronic medicine uses modulation and stimulation of neural activity for the benefit of those with diseases as an alternative to drugs. 
2. Various advances are being made in clinical trials dealing with problems such as Crohn's disease, neural plasticity disorders, and vision loss. 
3. Vagus nerve stimulation has opened a gateway to many bioelectronic medicine applications. 

 

 

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Dr. Sangeeta Chavan.  

 

[3:40]  Dr. Chavan discusses Dr. Kevin Tracey's background in neuromodulation.  

 

[5:10]  Bioelectronic medicine takes into account molecular mechanisms and neural circuits that contribute to diseases, to be able to modulate them. 

 

[7:20] At the summit, Dr. Chris Puleo discussed non-invasive neuromodulation using ultrasound as a form of therapy. 

 

[9:30] The speakers that inspired Dr. Chavan the most were Dr. Molly Stevens and Dr. Chris Collier for their cutting-edge projects.  

 

[11:50] The keynote speaker for the second day was Dr. Lawrence Steinman, whose research focuses on the role of amyloid proteins in inflammatory disease models. 

 

[13:40] Dr. Larry Miller spoke about the uses of bioelectronic medicine in regulating sphincter function.   

 

[15:00] Targeting nerves to treat diseases has been proven to work for many patients and is continuing to grow. 

 

To learn more about the Feinstein Institutes, listen to these episodes: Dr. Stavros Zanos, Dr. Kevin Tracey, Jojo Platt, Dr. Harbi Sohal 

 

Dr. Owen Phillips is the co-founder and CEO of Brainkey. Their mission is to "revolutionize brain health care by helping people access, understand, and benefit from advances in our understanding of the human brain". Brainkey's work allows patients to view their own MRI scans in 3-D while teaching them about the regions of the brain through an online platform. In this episode, Dr. Owen Phillips discusses how BrainKey develops 3-D MRI visualizations.  

 

Top three takeaways: 

1. An MRI consists of photographic slices of your brain put together to produce an image. Brainkey takes these images and makes a 3-D model. 
2. 3-D imaging allows for biometric data to be collected that could provide more information about neurological diseases. 
3. Your brain age can be calculated through the MRI scans, giving patients data to track brain health.  

 

 

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Dr. Owen Phillips.   

 

[2:30] Dr. Owen Phillips explains how Brainkey makes medical imaging friendly for the patient. 

 

[4:00]  By developing relationships with MRI centers, Brainkey can provide affordable MRI scans. 

 

[6:20] Repeated Brainkey MRI scans can allow patients to view how their brain has changed over time and check on their brain health. 

 

[8:30] As a HIPAA compliant company, they ensure that patient data is secure.  

 

[10:20] Aside from getting a 3-D visualization, you can also get a life-size 3-D print of your brain. 

 

[13:25] While many are still able to upload their MRI into Brainkey, COVID has made it difficult to provide MRI scans as easily. 

 

 

Dr. Alfred Poor is the editor and publisher at Health Tech Insider. Aside from this, he is also a technology speaker and writer, providing insight into the health technology community. In this episode, Dr. Alfred Poor discusses current events in brain-computer interface technology. 

 

 

Top three takeaways: 

1. Health Tech Insider provides newsletters that cover wearable mobile devices for health and medical applications. 
2. In this time of online conferences, it takes great lighting, audio, and engagement to be a successful speaker. 
3. It is becoming increasingly popular for doctors to remotely monitor patients.  

 

 

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Dr. Alfred Poor.  

 

[2:20] Dr. Poor discusses the differences between online and onsite conferences. 

 

[5:10] Dr. Poor emphasizes the importance of having an online conference structure that allows for audience participation. 

 

[8:20] Using an external camera and microphone during online meetings can keep members engaged and help presenters get their message across clearly.   

 

[11:40] After the COVID-19 pandemic, the new normal will include much more online events than previously.  

 

[13:10] Dr. Poor describes his roles at Health Tech Insider. 

 

[16:30] Brain-computer interface technology is creating ways to close a feedback loop for motion and senses in the body.   

 

[18:10] Smartphone technology has accelerated the progress of brain-computer interface devices.  

 

[21:35] Monitoring of blood sugar levels has become exponentially easier over time due to continuous glucose monitors and now under-the-skin sensors.  

 

[25:00] Artificial intelligence and machine learning play key roles in making use of the biometric data collected with new technologies.  

 

[28:30] A new Galaxy watch product will be able to take in blood pressure and ECG.

This week's guests from NICO Corporation are Jim Pearson, who is the founder, president, and CEO, and Joseph Mark, CTO. The third guest is Dr. Julian Bailes, part of the NorthShore University Health System as Co-Director of the NorthShore Neurological Institute. The NICO Corporation is based in Indianapolis. Their technology has been used in over 35,000 brain surgeries, published in 100+ clinical articles, and they have been awarded hundreds of patents on their technology and surgical methodologies. In this episode, Jim Pearson, Dr. Julian Bailes, and Joseph Mark discuss how NICO Corporation is innovating brain surgery. 

Top three takeaways: 

1. The brain is the last and only major organ in the human body left to not have a Minimally Invasive approach. NICO is changing this through the use of their interventional technology coupled with advanced imaging. The brain's fiber tracks can be identified, and these images are then coupled with NICO's technology allowing imaging and intervention to be used simultaneously, resulting in more effective and safe brain surgeries.    
2. NICO Corporation has developed technologies and a brain surgery approach that displaces tissue using the natural folds to gain access rather than slicing through it and it has successfully been used over 35,000 brain surgeries. 
3. Their current technology has solved the demanding problem of internal safe access to deep areas in the brain to remove a tumor or a blood clot. Now, their next challenge is about "putting technology into the brain".  They are at the cutting edge of Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) and they are accomplishing this by being the first to implant a computer chip deep in the brain (not just on the surface) where 99% of the functioning of the brain occurs.   

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guests, Jim Pearson, Joseph Mark, and Dr. Julian Bailes.  

[3:35] Jim Pearson discusses the start of NICO Corporation.  

[5:25] Dr. Julian Bailes tells of his experience as a neurosurgeon working with NICO Corporation.   

[7:30] Joseph Mark describes the process of designing devices that provide safe access to the brain. 

[10:00] The displacement method does not cut through tissue but rather moves it while keeping it intact.  

[13:10] Other aspects such as tissue preservation and biological preservation are beginning to show importance in brain tumor research.  

[16:20] Their next project is to implant a murine model in a rat to show that it is possible to get in and out of the deepest areas of the brain without compromising brain function. This is where 99% of the functionality is and the most important aspect of the brain.

[18:17] For human patients, the access portals are 11 and 13.5 millimeters in diameter; and these values are scaled down for animal implants. 

[21:30] The future of NICO Corporation is finding ways to surgically place things into the brain causing the least damage and minimizing invasion. 

[24:00] Their current focus is a major trial on hemorrhagic strokes, which Dr.Bailes is a part of. 

[27:20] The group seeks to find what effect the mechanical interfaces have on the final results of the brain surgery. 

[31:15] The NICO Corporation ensures that each customer of their devices is properly trained before use. 

 

Gordon Wilson is the co-founder and CEO of Rain Neuromorphics. They work on technologies that improve memory processing, analog computation, and scalable systems. In this episode, Gordon Wilson discusses how Rain Neuromorphics recreates neural networks. 

 

Top three takeaways: 

1. Rain Neuromorphics prides itself on providing technology that has reimagined the analog multiplication architecture. 
2. GPUs are the standard hardware used for neural networks because of their capability of performing matrix algebra.
3. It is important to focus on technology that processes information at the source.

 

 

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Gordon Wilson.  

 

[2:40] Wilson describes why building a brain is necessary for understanding it.  

 

[4:40] In this research, it is fundamental to understand the difference between digital and analog signal processing. 

 

[7:10] Processing in memory consists of using analog processors to complete matrix math. 

 

[9:40] The Rain Neuromorphics technology allows scaling up of analog processing to build larger neural networks. 

 

[12:30] Current projects include fabricating nano-wires that perform matrix multiplication.  

 

[14:50] Chips that are analog and scalable are very well suited to be the kind of device in brain processing.  

 

[16:30] The "memristor" is programmable and capable of changing resistance values.  

 

[19:30] Rain Neuromorphics completes multidisciplinary projects in the Bay area.   

 

[21:47] The product that Rain Neuromorphics will bring to the market will be a massive, sparsely connected array of neurons.  

 

[24:40] A "puff" occurs when wires are placed in a stochastic fashion in such a way that they are physically unclonable. 

Dr. Ivan Gligorijević is the co-founder and CEO of mBrainTrain, based in Serbia. Their main goal is to improve the quality of life of users through non-invasive electrode technology. In this episode, Dr. Ivan Gligorijević discusses how mBrainTrain is producing a mobile EEG device. 

 

Top three takeaways: 

1. The headphone design of the device makes it easy to use in everyday conditions. 
2. Through this methodology of data collection, there is no invasiveness or risk to the individual.   
3. The goal of the device is to help users gain back their time and life through the optimization of their mental state.  

 

 

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Dr. Ivan Gligorijević.  

 

[2:10] Gligorijević explains how the headphone device is suitable for recording brain activity in everyday conditions. 

 

[4:30] With the EEG data obtained in the headset, more can be learned about a person's mental workload, focus, and even quantification of stress. 

 

[8:00] The device consists of electrodes at the ears and top of the headphone to extract part of the EEG. 

 

[10:30] Gligorijević emphasizes the importance of scientific studies confirming the positive effects and strategies of similar headphone devices. 

 

[12:40] Being based in Serbia, it can be difficult to gain funding but the mBrainTrain team received a grant in 2014. 

 

[15:50] The future direction for the company is to bring EEG to everyday people and have it be viewed as a new type of interface. 

 

[17:40] mBrainTrain firmly believes that having technology that is scientifically proven to work through research is necessary. 

  

 

Top three takeaways: 

1. The goal is to accelerate the translation of devices to be able to reach patients globally.  
2. Jojo Platt is the co-creator of Skraps, a podcast that focuses on the inspirations and stories of influential people in various scientific fields.  
3. There is an important conversation to be had about the future of implantable devices and user privacy. 

 

 

 

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Jojo Platt.  

 

[2:15] Platt talks about her involvement in the MSRI-EC conference. 

 

[5:36] The conference included video testimonials from Ian Burkhart and Kelly Owens, both research advocates and participants.   

 

[7:00] Vanessa Tolosa, one of the founding members of Elon Musk's Neuralink, also gave a presentation at the conference. 

 

[12:24] Platt emphasizes the need for the public to discuss the privacy of information associated with brain-computer interface technology. 

 

[14:03] Skraps is a new podcast that Jojo Platt and her partner Arun Sridhar created, having guests from various fields talk about their experiences and inspirations.

Kurt Haggestrom comes on to talk about the latest new from Synchron, which has developed the Stentrode as well as the new Synchron Switch. Kurt talks about his new role as Chief Commercial Officer and where the company is heading.

***This podcast is sponsored by CEITEC Nano, check out their Neurotech Device Manufacturing Capabilities here***

Top three takeaways:
 1. "The beauty of this approach is that the blood vessels are an amazing place. To be able to put implants and we've, we're leveraging really decades of science and medical devices in say, the coronary space and the heart space. We know that these types of materials heal very well within the vasculature. It's a very novel approach and really scalable because there's a lot of physicians that can do this type of procedure."

 2.   "Syncron is developing we're calling it the Synch Switch. So it is an endovascular brain-computer interface system. This system will allow patients who are suffering from paralysis to connect into the digital world, whether it's banking, communication by using a smartphone or computer.
 3. "A key part of, I think these types of novel technologies is to think about "how do people afford this when it does get to market?" And with the patients that we're focused on today, many of them use Medicare to be able to afford these technologies. It's critical that we think about our partnership and in working with CMOs to make reimbursement possible for these type of technologies.

 

[1:15] "Do you want to give a refresher on what Synchron does?"

[3:00]  "What are some exciting news that comes out of Synchron?"

[4:15] "So what is Chief Commercialization Officer and why is it necessary, especially for a company like Syncron which isn't commercial yet?"

[5:45] CEITEC Nano ad sponsorship

[6:15] "What's your story arc?"

[8:30] How are you navigating reimbursement?

[9:30] What is your timeline for commercialization?

[10:45] "What are some security protocols, that you're putting into place?"

[12:30] "What are some of your biggest challenges nowadays?" 

[16:15] How many patients were in your study?

[16:30] How large is the target market?

[18:15] Does this have other application potentials outside of locked in patients?

[19:15] "Is there anything that we didn't talk about that you wanted to mention?"

 

 

Richard Hanbury is the founder and CEO of Sana Health. Their device consists of a non-addictive mask and headphones that use stimulation to increase balance in the hemispheres of the brain. This leads to greater relaxation and can mitigate the effects of fibromyalgia, pain, anxiety, and depression. In this episode, Richard Hanbury discusses how Sana Health's device can help users achieve relaxation. 

 

Top three takeaways: 

1. The Sana Health sleep mask and headphones use pulses of light and sound to help users get better sleep.  
2. By stimulating the left and right hemispheres of the brain to a balance, users can reach a deeply relaxed state. 
3. The device is sold on the basis of monthly subscriptions, with users even being given a free one-month trial period. 

 

 

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Richard Hanbury.  

 

[2:20] Hanbury discusses upcoming clinical trials that assess how this wellness device helps with pain, anxiety, and depression. 

 

[6:00] A difference is seen in the EEG of a long-term meditator compared to those who rarely meditate, which was useful in the development of this device. 

 

[9:00] People experiencing long time chronic pain or anxiety tend to have a hemispheric imbalance. 

  

[11:00] Using the theory of brain hemisphere balancing, there have been promising results in the treatment of opioid use disorder and fibromyalgia. 

 

[13:40] The focus of the company shifted from being a solely sleep based company to neuropathic pain remedies. 

 

[15:50] New clinical trials are being done for FDA approval of the device with a larger sampling size, which has shown great results thus far. 

 

[17:30] Users can gain access to the device through monthly subscriptions, making it affordable to a larger amount of people. 

 

 

Dr. Jessica Robin is a scientist at Winterlight Labs. Winterlight Labs is a speech analytics company based in Ontario, Canada. They use applied healthcare technology to assess Alzheimer's and dementia progression. In this episode, Dr. Jessica Robin discusses how voice samplings can be used to make predictions about diseases. 

 

Top three takeaways: 

1. Dr. Jessica Robin and her team give patients a picture to look at, and the patient describes what they see, giving them speech data to analyze.
2. Current projects include mining interviews of celebrities for data showing alterations in speech as a prediction to Alzheimer's. 
3. The data collected ranges from unstructured and structured speech to assess the acoustics, pacing, and syntax. 

 

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Dr. Jessica Robin.  

 

[2:50] Just one minute of speech can give over 500 variables of speech data to analyze. 

 

[3:40] This type of technology can be applied to presidential speeches, and studies show that it is useful in observing healthy versus Alzheimer's patients' voices. 

 

[4:50] While certain conditions of voice samples such as previously prepared speeches do not provide the choice of syntax, acoustic and cadence data can be observed instead. 

 

[7:00] Dr. Jessica Robin wishes to expand into psychiatric disorders since aspects of a person's mental state are reflected in how they speak.  

Brian Pepin is the CEO and founder of Rune Labs. Since 2018, Rune Labs has managed neuromodulation systems in a way that acquires the most value out of the data available through therapies. Through this process, they hope to improve current models and push the neuromodulation field forward. In this episode, Brian Pepin discusses how Rune Labs is working to improve the ways data is collected and evaluated. 

 

Top three takeaways: 

1. The two main projects consist of precision medicine, such as decision support, and remote monitoring.
2. The goal is to build better neuromodulation therapies in terms of collecting continuous data rather than just at a clinical visit. 
3. The pandemic has caused a push towards remote data collection for clinical trials. 

 

 

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Brian Pepin.  

 

[1:00] Brian Pepin explains the role that Rune Labs plays in neuromodulation technology. 

 

[4:00] A new Apple Watch integration allows for the collection of many types of data that can be assessed by researchers using algorithms to yield clinical results. 

 

[7:10] Patient privacy towards data collected is highly protected and regulated. 

 

[10:50] The goal of Rune Labs is to properly gather effective data that can be used to build and improve models that push the field forward. 

 

[12:30] Amid the pandemic, there has been an urgency for continuous remote monitoring in order for clinical trials to proceed.  

 

[15:30] While some patients prefer the convenience of telemedicine, others strongly prefer face-to-face interaction with clinicians.  

 

[18:15] The future goal is to have a large-scale simulation of neurological diseases in which different data and therapies could be derived from. 

Arvind Gupta is the founder and venture advisor at IndieBio, a biotech company accelerator based in San Francisco. Through an intense four-month program, IndieBio's team guides a promising technological project into being an accomplished company. They pride themselves on being the home of tomorrow's leading companies. In this episode, Arvind Gupta discusses his strategy in turning ideas into successful companies. 

 

Top three takeaways: 

1. IndieBio collaborates with incredible technological innovations and strategizes the best way to set up a business that maximizes the impact of the invention and the value created by that invention. 
2. IndieBio plans to build milestone-based businesses that can interface people with machines to get a greater quantification of personal thoughts and feelings. 
3. 83% of the 116 companies IndieBio has funded are still alive today, totaling a worth of $2.3 billion. 

 

 

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Arvind Gupta.  

 

[1:10] IndieBio is a biotech company accelerator, helping companies with business and scientific milestones. 

 

[4:10] Being based in San Francisco, the pool of investors is smaller but the market size is immense. 

 

[6:20] Before IndieBio, Gupta invested in Vivid Vision, which used virtual reality to cure lazy eyes and improve vision. 

 

[10:30] IndieBio is looking for ideas that are noninvasive, cognitive enhancements that provide a benefit to a large market size. 

 

[13:50] Over the course of four months, mentors, investors, and venture capitalists work in the IndieBio lab to de-risk the chosen companies towards success.

 

[17:00] 43% of all the companies funded by IndieBio have female cofounders and have better performance because of it. 

 

[19:30] The accelerated nature of IndieBio allows for intense work to quickly figure out the potential success rate of a project.

Dr. Stavros Zanos is an Assistant Professor at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. In his Translational Neurophysiology lab, they develop methods and techniques to interface with, stimulate and record the vagus nerve to understand how it controls physiological functions, with the end goal of developing therapies for diseases. In this episode, Dr. Stavros Zanos discusses his recent publication regarding anodal blocking in the vagus nerve. 

 

Top three takeaways:

1. The selectivity capability between afferent and efferent fibers will be used to create better therapies using vagus nerve stimulation. 
2. The vagotomy technique proved to be useful when assessing the characteristics of the fibers as afferent or efferent.  
3. A major challenge of this project was recording the effects of the vagus nerve stimulation due to their complexity. 

 

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Dr. Stavros Zanos. 

 

[2:10] Dr. Zanos tells how his experiences led him to the Feinstein Institute. 

 

[4:10] His focus has been on engineering implants, understanding the physiological effects of bioelectronic therapies, and testing animal models to be able to create chronic implants for testing therapies.

 

[7:00] The anodal block technique used in their publication is a way of biasing the activation of afferent and efferent fibers to effectively treat different diseases.

 

[9:30] At the lowest intensity of stimuli, the larger fibers get engaged first; as you increase the intensity, smaller fibers are able to be engaged. 

 

[13:30] Judging by the physiological changes that occurred during a vagotomy, afferent and efferent fibers are indexed. 

 

[16:00] Dr. Zanos cautions researchers to always evaluate the translatability of their devices from animals to humans. 

 

[18:00] Another major focus of the lab is to develop chronic implants in animals, understand how to make them last longer, and then judge how the interface changes over time. 

 

[20:30] By increasing the intensity of stimulation, there is a greater amount of potentials going in one direction and blockage of the other potentials.

 

[24:10]  The cycle of innovation when it comes to medical devices ranges between five to 10 years. 

 

Dr. Patrick Ganzer is a Principal Research Scientist at Battelle. Battelle uses groundbreaking science and technology to solve the world's most pressing issues. Their projects focus on vagus nerve stimulation, haptic feedback technologies, and helping paralyzed patients regain mobility. In this episode, Dr. Patrick Ganzer shares the incredible story of Ian Burkhart and the new developments at Battelle. 

 

Top three takeaways:

1. The goal was to have the paralyzed patient, Ian Burkhart, have a chip implanted that would become active when he thought of a movement he wanted to complete. 
2. Even with weak natural signals remaining, BCI technologies are able to pick up multiple types of information in a seemingly small area of the brain. 
3. When vague signals of residual touch are perceived, an artificial haptic feedback is activated on the skin so that the patient can have some capacity of conscious touch. 

 

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Patrick Ganzer. 

 

[3:10] Dr. Ganzer speaks about his recent publication in Cell regarding a paralyzed patient, Ian Burkhart, that they were able to give mobility to in his hands. 

 

[5:00] After the injury and with intense practice, there could have been plasticity in Ian's cortex such that touch and movement representations may have started to overlap.

 

[7:30] There can still be a faint signal recognition in the motor cortex, which hints that even a small amount of fibers can relay reasonable transmission of sensory information.

 

[9:30] There are weak signals that can be picked up from the somatosensory cortex next to the implant chip with regard to mood, muscle stretch, movement, and touch.

 

[13:25] A new project focuses on vibrotactile or a vibration intensity feedback in the bicep correlating to varying grip pressures. 

 

[15:40] Battelle is working on getting the haptic feedback to be incorporated into the sleeve technology in order to be able to miniaturize the system for home use. 

 

[17:10] Demultiplexing techniques are used to separate touch and movement signals that are occurring at the same time to power different devices. 

 

[21:30] While at UT Dallas, Dr. Ganzer worked on a therapy that focused on vagus nerve stimulation to help the brain grow new connections and neuro-plasticity during rehab.

 

[23:20] His work currently focuses on using vagus nerve stimulation to treat ischemia, a cardiovascular disease causing inadequate oxygenation. 

 

[26:00] A perk of being a PI at Battelle is the opportunity to develop new technologies that get made into devices rather than strictly writing papers.  

 

Relevant Episodes: Bolu Ajiboye, Ian Burckhart, David Friedenberg 

Kelly Roman is the cofounder and CEO of Fisher Wallace Laboratories. Since 2007, their revolutionary Stimulator device helps all types of patients cope with mental illness through brain stimulation. In this episode, Mr. Roman emphasizes maintaining science as a priority while building a sustainable business. 

 

Top three takeaways:

1. The biomarker studies completed using the Fisher Wallace Stimulator have shown increases in serotonin and endorphins with a  decrease in cortisol and stress hormone. 
2. The Stimulator has a 70-75% success rate with almost no side effects. 
3. With a low maximum output and safe product placement variability, the Stimulator is a very user-friendly device. 

 

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Kelly Roman. 

 

[1:30] Roman discusses the beginnings of how the Fisher Wallace Stimulator came to be.  

 

[4:15] A Mount Sinai study showed that compared to patients given a placebo device, those using the Fisher Wallace Stimulator saw improvement in their mental illness symptoms. 

 

[6:30] Alternating current used in the stimulator allows for brainwave entrainment, which leaves the brain in the desired brainwave state even after stimulation has stopped. 

 

[8:25] Patients are reporting 70-75% success rate when treating at  least one symptom. 

 

[11:30] The next step for the company is to compile MRI and imagery data using the device.

 

[14:00]  The Stimulator device is inexpensive due to highly effective commercialization and lack of needed doctor administration. 

 

[16:25] For safety, there is a low output current that still maintains clinical effects. 

 

[19:20] Roman explains the process of acquiring the intellectual property for the device and the company's beginnings. 

 

[21:50]  Due to Roman's digital marketing experience and many prominent drugs becoming generic, sales for Fisher Wallace's  new device went well. 

 

Sarah Hill, CEO and Dr. Jeff Tarrant, Chief Science Officer, started Healium in 2015. Healium uses the user's wearable device to show purposeful content to help control the state of mind of the user. In this episode, Dr. Jeff Tarrant and Sarah Hill speak about the ways Healium is developing anxiety relief through virtual and augmented reality techniques. 

 

Top three takeaways:

1. Healium is an app that contains more than 20 virtual reality experiences that are designed to guide users into a specific state of consciousness. 
2. There are studies around the world looking at the effects of using Healium from labor pain, PTSD, and addictions to generalized anxiety and pain. 
3. Compared to a control group, those with moderate anxiety using Healium saw a significant decrease in the activation of their anterior cingulate cortex, which is responsible for feelings of stress and anxiety. 

 

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guests, Sarah Hill and Dr. Jeff Tarrant. 

 

[2:30] Sarah Hill discusses her background in journalism and Dr. Jeff Tarrant discusses his background in psychophysiological monitoring. 

 

[4:20] The Healium app helps achieve a calm state of mind using virtual reality techniques. 

 

[6:25] There can sometimes be a disconnect between what we say we are feeling versus what our brain waves are showing our state of mind is. 

 

[8:15] Healium has future plans to add features that can provide physiological measurements that have an effect on the vagus nerve. 

 

[10:40] In their research studies, a 19 electrode EEG cap is placed on patients and the sLORETA process is used. 

 

[14:20] Healium is a self-awareness tool that helps to create a mind-body connection that many people have not been trained to have. 

 

[16:40] The virtual reality experiences range from South American waterfalls to solar systems, providing focus-driven content.  

 

[19:20] Hill emphasizes the importance of protecting not only our physical hygiene but our mental health hygiene as well. 

Dr. Ryan Todd Discusses How Headversity Provides Resilience Training

Ryan Todd is the cofounder and CEO of Headversity. He completed his MD at the University of Calgary. Since then, he has worked as a psychiatrist and cofounded this company. Headversity focuses on facilitating resilience in the workplace using a personalized app. In this episode, Dr. Todd speaks about the ways Headversity is able to provide resilience in these trying times. 

 

Top three takeaways:

1. Headversity focuses on resilience training so when faced with adversity, people not only survive but thrive in these situations. 
2. The main skills targeted with resilience training include stress management, mindfulness, and hardiness. 
3. An initial psychometric exam will provide you with a resilience score that guides you to the tools and content that would be most helpful for you. 

 

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Dr. Ryan Todd. 

 

[2:00] Todd  explains how Headversity is a training program targeting improving resilience, which is  given to all employees at many large organizations. 

 

[4:30]  A hardiness mindset consists of realizing the differences in what we can and cannot control, and reflecting upon these differences. 

 

[6:30]  Resilience is easiest to spot in athletes because we can see how they react under pressure, but these aspects can be applied to our mental fitness as well. 

 

[8:40]  Headversity users have shown an increase in mindfulness, mental health and heartiness scores of 30% over six months.

Dr. Pawel Soluch is the founder and CEO of Neuro Device Group S.A. He completed his PhD in the field of functional brain research from the University of Warsaw. Neuro Device focuses on wearable devices to mitigate the limitations aphasia presents as well as olfactory devices that can provide data on olfactory sensor activity. In this episode, Dr. Soluch speaks about the ways Neuro Device is developing devices that can predict the onset of Alzheimer's and help overcome speech impairments. 

 

Top three takeaways:

1. Aphasia is a speech impairment most commonly caused by a stroke, tumor or infection. People with aphasia are often intellectually intact with no way of communicating, which can cause social problems. 
2. The Voic device merges modern neuromodulation, clinical experience and new technology to improve the quality of life of post-stroke aphasia patients. 
3. The first symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases are smell disorders. Neuro Device's scent project will help by providing early diagnosis of such diseases. 

 

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Dr. Pawel Soluch. 

 

[2:20] Soluch discusses his beginnings in neurotech as a PhD student and why he decided to create Neuro Device. 

 

[5:15] Their team has goals to create an invasive and non-invasive stimulator in relation to neurostimulation to prevent aphasia.  

 

[8:30] Aphasia can have more negative impacts on the quality of life than symptoms associated with cancer or Alzheimer's.  

 

[10:15]  The Neuro Device Voic allows therapists to build their own exercise programs on the model, making it adaptable to different languages. 

 

[12:30]  The devices use applications of oscillating electrical currents to influence cortical excitability and activity.

 

[15:25]  The global pandemic has caused a pause on the progress of the olfactory device project while the Voic device is developing in hardware and software.  

 

[18:10]  The company has grown to be a success including 30 people partnering with leaders in science and medical device technology.

 

[21:35] The scent project in development could be used as an effective tool for the early diagnosis of diseases like Alzheimer's. 

 

Pawel Soluch is a returning guest who goes over his work at Neuro Device, then his consulting at NeurotechX Services, and now finally he talks about the Medtech Coaching program that he is launching with me!

This is a sponsorship for Medtech Coach

Top 3 Takeaways:

• Pawel and I (Ladan) are launching the Medtech Coaching program which will be aimed at helping medical device executives gain success in their businesses
• Coaching is different from consulting in that we do not generate anything for you but instead help you to become the best medtech executive you can possibly be
• In addition to group coaching we will also be offering individual coaching and also a retreat in January 2024

0:45 Do you want to reintroduce yourself

2:45 Do you want to talk about Neuro Device?

5:15 Do you want to talk about your work as a consultant?

7:15 Do you want to talk about your experience in my original group coaching?

9:15 What's the difference between coaching and consulting?

12:00 "Who is this for and who is it not for?"

15:00 What was the return on investment for the group coaching that you attended?

19:15 What does the individual coaching look like?

23:00 What does the retreat look like?

24:30 What's the role of trust in the meetings?

https://medtechcoach.com/

Dr. Mauro Gandolfo is the cofounder and CEO of 3Brain. He received a PhD in Bioengineering from Università degli Studi di Genova and over the last 15 years, has committed to facilitating research in major fields like neuroscience, ophthalmology and cardiology. 3Brain is the world's first company to create microelectrode arrays with high resolution (HD-MEAs). In this episode, Dr.Gandolfo speaks about the ways brain organoids and CMOS technology are revolutionizing our understanding of neuronal functions. 

 

Top three takeaways:

1. The main advantage of using CMOS-APS technology over conventional microelectrode arrays is that it is possible to manipulate many electrodes within a small area and prevent undersampling. 
2. The label-free, non-invasive methodology of 3Brain allows for data to be collected over extended periods of time, which will benefit studies on neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. 
3. The extent of oversampling can be controlled by finding a balance of compromising resolution and the range in area of neurons being measured. 

 

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Mauro Gandolfo. 

[2:30] Gandolfo discusses the beginnings of 3Brain and how their products revolutionize electrophysiology using CMOS technology.  

[5:40] Their team has worked to modify the structure of the pixel on the CMOS device to measure changes in voltage of neuron membranes rather than photons.  

[8:10] The 3Brain approach eliminates the need to dye cells and instead emphasizes functional imaging, where cell behavior is observed. 

[10:50] While each electrode can sense 1-3 cells, triangulation can be used to find the source of the information, and as a result, locating the neuron.  

[13:20] As a control for oversampling, compression tools allow users to decide the level of information they want to capture based on their study.  

[15:35]  Stem cell technology and cellular reprogramming technology have revolutionized medicine in the 21st century.  

[17:40] Brain organoids allow scientists to test compounds that can treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. 

[19:20] Researchers are working on adding components to the organoids to increase accuracy such as vasculature and diversification of cells.  

[21:20] A new project consists of 3-D technology that can penetrate into the organoids to record data from the inside.  

[24:30] Currently, the goal height of their silicon chip is 100 microns, promoting more proper recordings of brain organoid behavior.  

[26:20] 3Brain's mission is to provide answers to patients with brain diseases, contributing through their technologies. 

Amir Bozorgzadeh is the cofounder and CEO of Virtuleap. Virtuleap uses specialized virtual reality games to help improve cognitive health. The company has successfully developed data dashboards that communicate the cognitive performance progress of each user. In this episode, he discusses the current ways VR is altering the landscape of brain training, as well as the future of Virtuleap.  

Top three takeaways:

1. Virtuleap works to translate standardized cognitive tests approved by scientists into VR games that range in complexity, providing high quality 3-D interaction brain training. 
2. There is hope that in the future VR cognitive therapy can benefit people suffering from cognitive disorders such as dementia, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's.
3. The VR games by Virtuleap are created alongside research institutes which use the VR data as a way of measuring cognitive health changes in participants of clinical studies. 

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Amir Bozorgzadeh.

[2:45] Bozorgzadeh discusses the positive outcomes of brain training with VR. 

[5:00] Virtuleap works to translate standardized cognitive tests into VR games in hopes of creating a diverse library for users. 

[7:45] The targeted audience is the growing elderly population, which is predicted to outnumber children within the next ten years for the first time in United States history.  

[9:00] Virtuleap can help users to improve their quality of life and cognitive health. 

[11:20] Bozorgzadeh expresses the importance of having technical and non-technical members in any startup. 

[12:00] In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an increased demand for STEM oriented startups. 

[13:30] While a research-validated startup can be challenging, it is rewarding to be able to create a company that provides such great benefits to society. 

 

Dr. Ginger Campbell is the host of Brain Science, a very large neuroscience podcast, and one of the earliest neuroscience podcasts created. In this episode, she discusses the podcast itself, why and how she started it up, as well as what it takes to run a neuroscience podcast.

Top three takeaways:

1. If you want to make a scientific podcast, you must understand the workload that comes with it. It takes a lot to generate accurate scientific content for your listeners.
2. When doing a scientific podcast, it is critical to think about your audience. It can be very helpful to try to reach those outside your field, especially in science, as there is a need for this communication.
3. When picking a topic for your podcast, pick something that you are passionate about, and something that you can talk about easily.

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Ginger Campbell

[3:30] Campbell explains why she chose neuroscience as the topic for her podcast

[6:45] The subject that Campbell is most interested in right now is the intrinsic activity of the brain

[10:15] One author suggests that we should do away with the idea of the mind, and focus more on how the brain as an organ interacts with the world around it

[12:45] To make a scientific podcast, one must realize that there is a tremendous workload involved. Creating accurate scientific content for a podcast is much different than making a podcast talking about your favorite TV show or sports team.

[16:30] Authors enjoy coming onto the podcast for the publicity, as obtaining publicity can be very difficult, and being a guest on a popular podcast can be very beneficial

[19:00] When doing a science podcast, you need to deeply think about the audience you are trying to reach. Communicating with those outside your field about what your field does is very beneficial in building a good audience, as there is a need for this type of communication.

[22:15] Be careful of goofing off at the beginning of shows and going off on irrelevant tangents early in the episode, or it may prompt some audience members to stop listening

[26:00] Campbell started the podcast because she has an interest and a knack for explaining science, the same way she explains medicine to her patients

[29:30] Due to the current economic crisis happening, podcasters depending on advertising will likely suffer within the near future

[31:00] For those wanting to do a podcast, it is important to pick a subject that you are passionate about. Talk about what you know and what interests you.

[34:30] It is easier to make a podcast about neuroscience than about quantum mechanics, because everyone has a brain, whereas quantum mechanics do not affect people's lives

[37:00] Listener feedback is what will really keep you going when it gets tough

[39:00] Ladan gives further thoughts on the discussion and discusses the services of Neural Implant Media

 

TRANSCRIPT (Auto-generated):

Welcome to the neural implant podcast where we talk with the people behind the current events and breakthroughs in brain implants and understandable way, helping bring together various fields involved in Euro prosthetics. Here is your host, Latin Yara. Check. Hello everyone, and welcome to the neural implant podcast.

Today we have a special guest. It's ginger Campbell of the brain science. Podcast, and I'm really happy to have her on the show. She is an O, G original gangster of the neuroscience podcasting space. She's been doing this since 2006 and the really one of the pioneers of podcasting, she says podcasting started in 2004 so she's not completely.

The first person to do this, but that was like 1415 years ago, so you know, we can call it pretty much like that. So really interesting stuff. She's had over 10 million downloads on her show and really an honor to talk to. One of the people that started out Pluralsight is podcasting

ginger Campbell. Pleasure to have you on the show. You are the host of the brain science podcast, which is a huge neuroscience podcast, and I'm really excited to have you on. We've actually been talking about this for awhile and do you want to introduce the podcast a little bit? Yeah, thanks. First I want to mention that the name of the podcast is.

Brain science podcast is not part of the name anymore. Just in case you happen to be searching in your podcasting app. I think I took the name, I think I took podcasts I will name about five years ago. Actually, I don't remember exactly when I did it. I decided that putting podcasts in your title had become sort of redundant.

Back when I started in 2006 it was really common for podcasts to be part of the title, but you know, now it's not so much. So anyway, just plain old brain science, neuroscience for everyone. Now you're making me rethink the name of my podcast. And so basically the idea of the show is to explore how recent discoveries in neuroscience are helping unravel the mystery of how our brains make us human.

And my tagline is. The show for everyone who has a brain, because I want to communicate. The show doesn't require a scientific background. However, the listeners are very diverse, ranging from people who haven't gone to college. I've got a house painter and a plumber, and then actual neuroscientists, so that makes for a challenge when I'm creating my show.

Interesting. And you said you started back way back in 2006 I think that's pretty much when a podcasting started. How was that? Well, podcasting officially started in 2004 and then it appeared in iTunes in the summer of 2005 which is when many of us early people became aware of it because before that you had to be able to.

Code your own RSS feed and stuff like that. So I wasn't that much of a pioneer. And then it took me about a year to figure out what I wanted to make my show about. So, so I think I started about two years in which now that I'm on my 14th year, I guess, represents almost a pioneer. Yeah. I think for those looking back nowadays, they would, they would see very much as to see very little of a distinction.

It's like, Oh, when did you, you know, when did you come to America? 1492 or 1512 or something. Like I said that at some point it's kind of like, ah, it's kind of, you know, splitting hairs, but so why did you choose neuroscience. Well because it just happened to be what I was reading at the time that I decided to start a show.

I didn't want to show about my job, which I'm a physician, so I wanted to show that was about what I was just interested in, and at the time, neuroscience hadn't been quite become quite so popular, but I would be listening to people say things that weren't quite right because mainstream media. Coverage of science and neuroscience is, you know, pretty bad, and I wanted to share the things I was reading.

I figured lots of people weren't going to read the books. I wanted to share the stuff I was learning with others. That was really my motivation and I wanted to make a show that was accurate, that told people what the science really shows. That was my, that was my driver. So you're working as a physician, but not necessarily in the field of neuroscience.

It was just kind of an interest of yours then, right? Yeah. I actually came through it through philosophy of mind. I was reading Western philosophy for the first time in my life. I had been through Eastern philosophy, which is actually very mind oriented, but not exactly science oriented. And then I decided to explore Western philosophy.

I discovered there's this whole subset of philosophy called philosophy of mind, and that's when I discovered that neuroscience had come a long way since I had last. Got it. Which was like right before I started medical school in 1980 that was in the days of huge glass electrodes and, and so I got really fascinated with neuroscience because like I said, it, it, it's, it helps us understand who we are.

Yeah, definitely. And I mean, but that's still pretty interesting. I mean, there was a, to keep something up for 15 years or to, to maintain, you know, as somewhat expensive habits and a very, very time consuming habit of podcasting, you know, really is, is more than just a passing interest. I would have to argue that there was something bigger driving you, like how you were thinking, why you were thinking and the science.

So maybe what were your favorites. Episodes or favorite subjects like this philosophy of mine. Specific topics, I guess. Yeah. Yeah. Early on, I was really interested in the question of consciousness. That would be a major theme that still carries through on the show. My favorite early episode was one about exercise and the brain.

With John Rady, unfortunately, as a horrible sound quality, but, but that was my favorite early episode because that was something people could use. He explained why exercising is good for your brain, and since the people who tend to listen to my show oftentimes care about their brain health, that one was one that had a personal impact for people.

So it stands out out for me. Really? Yeah, definitely. Yeah. And then of course, learning about brain plasticity. That was something that was new at the beginning of the show. Now it's kind of old hat everybody knows about brain plasticity, but the subject that really, the subject that I'm really fascinated by right now actually has to do with the intrinsic activity of the brain.

And this actually might be relevant to your listeners who are interested in neural implants, because I've been reading a couple of books about the idea of the intrinsic activity of the brain. One is called the brain from the inside out by URI Misaki, which is, he's the guy who's very well known as a pioneer in brain rhythms.

And I have another one. I can't think of the name of it right the second, I think it's called the spontaneous brain, but they're both on the same idea that we need to start looking at the brain from the inside out. It's intrinsic activity is really a key feature, and the reason why I think this might be relevant to people interested in neural implants is that I think it may explain how something like say the cochlear implant.

Is why it's so successful. I don't know if you're aware of this, but when the cochlear implant was first invented, people didn't really think it would work because the amount of information in the signal is very poor relative to normal hearing. And what they found was that people learned to make sense out of what they were hearing from the cochlear implant.

You start out making sense, but eventually their brain just kind of decoded it. And so. Bruce hockey's idea is that the brain is going along, making signals, making it, throwing signals out, throwing signals out. And then when we're lippy as a part of life, we associate through the timing of brain rhythms. A spontaneous signal was something else in the world, and we make a match.

So if that's really true, then that means our brain can be more flexible for, you know, learning, you know, new ways to interact with the world. For example, a brain machine interface. You know, we could learn to, to generate a different brain pattern, to do a thing, say with the computer. And that seems to be what people are actually experiencing, right?

When they're trying to create these interfaces. Are you familiar with what I'm talking about? Yeah. Yeah, I know. I know. Boost hockey has a boost hockey, uh, array the Tetro and everything like this, and, and some of my colleagues have worked with them, but yeah, it's, it's definitely, you know, the amount of plasticity that's in the brain.

And you, you might remember this actually, you might've been around like when this was, people were saying like, Oh, there's no, you know, change in the brain. There's no neurons being created after, after childhood. Right. And essentially that everything's kind of set in stone, but you know, that that basically negates all of learning.

And, you know, people like kind of, kind of like with the cochlear implant, like, you know, people can learn crazy, crazy stuff like Morse code. I mean, people learn beeps and boops, you know, and, and translate that into, you know, speech almost. And, and like, I think I heard, I was hearing about like, people that are really good at Morse code, like they almost here.

Writing or speech in that, you know? So yeah, it's crazy stuff. All this, all this about plasticity and how dynamic the brain actually is. And this other guy that I'm reading, and I'm, I can't pronounce his name, so I'm love to say it, but the name of his book is the spontaneous brain. He actually argues that maybe we should even do away with the idea of the mind and just talk about the world brain problem.

That is, how does the brain. Interact with the world. And in, in his book, he, he talks about the empirical evidence. It's very similar to be sockies because they both talk about the evidence that faster rhythms are nested into slower rhythms. And also the fact that when you look at the brain's response to an external signal, it's.

Influenced by whatever the brain is already doing. They're not additive. There's an interaction. So I think that idea, the idea of just doing away with the idea of the mind, he calls it a Copernican revolution because he's saying instead of having this, you know, like sort of mind centered view of the world, which gives us this, this, you know, mind body problem, which we can't seem to solve that.

If we just shift our viewpoint from. To the interaction between the brain and the world. We can just do away with the whole mind body problem. It's just kind of an interesting thought. Yeah, definitely. I think, I think there definitely is a fallacy that lies there. But I want to talk about the podcast. So, you know, you have written here that you've passed 10 million downloads and are very influential.

You've been ranked number one on iTunes and Libsyn, which is a big, you know, podcast, hosting a site. They're also have you as one of the proud, you know, like, Hey, look, who goes with us? You know, look who we have, you know, is one of our customers. But what has been your experience with hosting? One of the biggest.

Well, unfortunately, science podcasts are not, you know, the most popular in terms of big numbers. I mean, my numbers are very good for science, but because of the way advertising works, you need really big numbers to, to make money. To give you an example, I don't know if you've heard of the person who does grammar girl.

She's. Made a business out of her podcast, a Minoan Fogarty. She actually started as a science podcast and back in 2007 she told me she gave up science podcasting cause it was too much work. And, and that really is a reality. I mean, if you're going to, I know you would like to encourage more people to do science podcasts and so would I.

But I think that it is important to be realistic about the work. Load involved. You know, if you make a fan cast about your favorite TV show and you just get together with your buddies and talk about it, you know, every week it's not, I mean, it's time consuming, but it's not the same kind of work as trying to create accurate science content.

I think it's a level of challenge that the people that the average podcast or doesn't appreciate. That's funny that there's more money in grammar than there is in science. Yeah. Well, everybody needs grammar, and a lot of people don't think they need science. Yeah. No, it's very helpful actually. So what has been some of your, I don't know, responses or what?

What kind of feedback have you gotten over? Geez, almost a decade and a half that you've been doing this, huh? Well, the two most surprising things. One is feedback from students. I never. Expected the feedback from students. I thought of my show as being a show that would be sort of the NPR adult kind of person who, who was curious about about neuroscience, but I have students of all ages, and I actually have one listener.

Who is now in his first year of residency, who's been listening to the show as a psychiatry resident who's been listening to the shows for eight years since he was in high school. So that's pretty amazing. And I've had people write to me and say, I'm going to go into neuroscience because of listening to the show, so that.

That was a total surprise. I did not expect that. And the other surprising thing is when people with with neurological or mental health challenges write to me and tell me that. That might show helps them to cope with their challenges. I had a listener once who said he was listening to the show with his father who was dying from Alzheimer's, and I recently actually had a patient, sorry, excuse me, habit, a listener, right?

Saying that he had recently been diagnosed with early onset dementia, and he was still listening to the show that he felt that was helpful to him. So. It's as a physician, I have to say that the most amazing thing is realizing the show has impacted so many people, so many more people than I'll ever reach as a physician.

Yeah, that's pretty amazing stuff. I mean, and that's something I, I, you know, talk about on my show as well. Like, you know, a good scientific paper might get, you know, a hundred views and like five citations or something like this. And that's, you know, you can be proud of that. But with our shows, you can get hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of downloads and that reach, although maybe not as deep and, and like, you know, in the specific subset it breaches, it goes much further.

And I think that really. Gives your research and your message much more value as well. Yeah. I don't have any trouble getting guests. Uh, even though I do focus on scientists who write books, I occasionally interview people who are involved in basic science, especially people that are, uh, extremely good at communicating like Seth grant, for example.

But the reason that I focus on books is that it gives my listeners a place to go if they want to learn more. The average person doesn't have access to the literature. You know, they don't have access to an academic library. All these, lots of these papers are still behind paywalls. But by talking to somebody who's taken the time to put a bunch of research together in a book, if a person you know, wants to go to the next level, their first choice is just go and read the book and people actually do that.

So authors are very happy to come on my show cause they, most of them really do understand that. Yeah. They, they want as much, you know, public publicity as I can get. Cause it really can be hard to sometimes break above the noise. And yeah. I mean there is something special about like having somebody who's worked in the field and you know, potentially.

Simplify things and, and, you know, get it from behind the paywall because that's actually, that's the reason I started this show as well, was, you know, trying to get to the research. I was outside of the paywall at the time, but I wanted to learn what everybody was doing and who the big people in the field were.

So, uh, I figured I might as well help other people with this as well. So, yeah. That, that's really interesting. You, you're very much into books. You have a different, you have another podcast about books actually as well, right? Yeah, so it's called, it's called books and ideas. It has a pretty small audience because it's not niche enough.

You know, in podcasting, it seems to be an advantage to be, to have a niche. And even though books and ideas clearly describes what the show really is, it, it's not quite, I mean, it's really the place I put everything that doesn't fit. So I might talk to a science fiction writer, or I might talk to a scientist.

I might talk to, I, I've interviewed. Astronomers physicists, a woman who's written video game novels. So I mean, it's very, very, very diverse, which I enjoy, but makes finding its audience difficult. So it's truly my passion project. Yeah, for sure. That's a, that's interesting. So what do you think, I mean, do you think, uh, the world would be better if there was more podcasts if more people were doing this kind of stuff, or would it be crowded or what's, what's your kind of opinion on science communication?

We definitely need more good science podcasts. I mean, many years ago, I actually tried to start a website. It was called, this was back in 2008 I started a website called science pod-casters dot org and I tried to recruit Joe's to come and basically share their. Show notes all in one place so people may be, would find them.

And I closed it down in 2010 because the national science foundation started their site, which I think is called. Science three 60 I'm not sure. Anyway, it's a very good clearinghouse for good science podcasts, and there was a way I could compete with that, but I do think that if you're going to do a science podcast, you really do need to think about what is the audience you actually want to reach.

If you want your show to be, you know, the inside baseball, you know, really highly technical. Fine, but realize your chances of getting an audience is going to be, you know. You could, it's okay to have a small audience, but you need to know that that's what's going to happen if you want. If your passion is you want people outside your field to understand what your field is about, I think that's really, really valuable, especially these days because science journalism, you know, the newspapers aren't paying for science journalists, the television networks.

Obviously aren't paying for good science journalists, so there's a huge need for somebody to go out there and communicate to people what science is really about. To give you an example of another great Lipson podcast that I'm promoting right now, for obvious reasons, is this weekend virology. I mean, if you want to hear a great show, that's really the science of coronavirus.

This week in virology, which is a Lipson show and Vincent ranch and Ella used to be a part of my science podcast or.org organization. This week in virology launched in 2008 so it's not a, you know, Hey, let's jump on the bandwagon. You know, I had to get that in there cause I really think this is an important show for people to listen to.

I just think that, I think it's really valuable. We need, I'd like to see some good physics shows that, you know, tried to explain things to regular people like me. You know, I guess maybe Sean Carroll does a little on his, but he, his show is, I don't think it's. It's really focused on physics, even though he's a physicist.

Yeah, but if you're going to do it, I would the run recommendation if I had anything to do different, I don't know if you're planning to ask me that question. If I was going to do something different, I would want to have a cohost. I mean, you know someone to carry the load so that you know it's not all on you.

If you can find a cohost, you'll probably have a better chance of, of lasting and not pod fading. And plus listeners enjoy, you know, hearing the relationship between the cohost. And that's something that, that, that I, I've never had the opportunity to do. Yeah, definitely. I agree. Like I've, I've had, I've also co-hosted some, some other podcasts, you know, with some colleagues, and that does get go much better because you get a different perspective.

I mean, obviously, you know, the questions that you ask, you know your way of thinking, but then the cohost might ask a question and that's just like, Oh wow. That is actually very interesting. I'm very curious what the answer is. I think that's a very good piece of advice. But beware of the excess chitter chatter.

I can't tell you how many podcasts I have turned off at the beginning because everybody's talking about. You know, it doesn't matter what TV show they watched or whatever. Most of us can't pull that off. I mean, if you're like a celebrity, maybe somebody wants to know what you did last night, but otherwise they probably don't and they're probably going to turn off your show before you even get to your interview.

If you make it a habit. Of doing too much goofing around at the beginning. And that's, that's just my opinion. But I've heard other podcast listeners say the same thing when talking about what shows they turn off. Most of us aren't as funny as we think we are and know, get to the point. For sure. I completely agree.

It has to be substantive. So, okay, so what's, what's your plans with the future of brain science and what kind of goals are you hoping to accomplish with it? Well, you know, this year it's hard to know what's going to happen. I was really hoping to take the show to another level this year. I actually experimented with going back to twice a month, which I, um, did the first two years of the show.

But I've decided to go back to once a month, which has worked well for over 10 years. I'm trying, I was planning to release the second edition of my book. Are you sure? The unconscious. Origins of certainty next week, but that's been held up just in the layout. Um, stage, just because of uncertainties with, with the pen dynamic, and I'm not sure how people are going to get books.

Amazon's society books are very low priority. If you order a book right now from Amazon, it'll come whenever. So it's probably not a re the best possible time to be releasing a book. And I really want to write that book. Are you sure is really just based on several older episodes of the show. And what I really want to do is to write a truly original book because I mean, I got almost 15 years worth of material.

I got lots of material. I want to write an original book, mainly because let's face it, there's still a lot of people who don't listen to podcasts. And. The reality is books are still, you know, the gold standard. So I want to write a really good, but it's called, it's going to be called why neuroscience matters, because really my, my whole premise is that understanding how neuroscience works should be a basic scientific literacy skill for the 21st century.

For example, if you understand what cognitive dissonance is. Politics make a lot more sense, but at any rate, so that's really my focus for this year is to get those books out. And then I w I hope they will help grow the show, but the main thing is to reach new people. Okay. Yeah. Just kind of educate the world on, on everything that's going on, how we think, why we think, I think that's a really good idea.

But I would, I would argue that, you know, books are, you know, obviously they reach different type of peer person than, than podcasting. And maybe more, maybe less, I don't know. But I would say that even better. Methods of teaching. And a big part of that is actually video is, you know, lot more people. For example, watch YouTube, then read books.

Yeah. And I'm not going to argue with that. I don't see myself as a video person. If somebody came to me and said, Hey, do you want to be part of a video project? I'd say, cool, but I'm not, you know, I'm not gonna. Take that on as a solo project. Audio podcasting is enough of a challenge as a solo project. I appreciate the fact that that a lot of people still, you know, now learn by video.

I happened to be a person who learns by reading and believe that there are still those of us out there. We learn by reading and I'm willing to accept the fact that. Someone else may be reaching those video people. Yeah. And if somebody wants to come to me and say, Hey, here's your great book. How can we put parts of it into a video?

You know, I'll be, I'll be up for that too, but I know what my strength is. Yeah. I mean, I got into podcasting because I realized almost immediately that it was just something that, that, um, really excited me and I felt like I was good at it. Explaining science is a lot more like my day job in which I explained medicine to my patients.

So it kind of, you know, trying to translate things into English is something that sort of comes naturally, or at least I've been doing it so long. It feels natural. Yeah, definitely. Kind of, I mean, essentially you're translating from Latin into English. Well, it's not quite that bad, but close enough. Yeah. I did want to talk about one other thing that was related to the book, and that was, I had.

I've had half a listener who's been just sort of hounding me about making an audio version of, are you sure? Which I'm not planning to do, partly because of expense and partly because of the content is already available mostly in audio. Format, but when I do my big book project, I definitely do consider making an audio version of it to be essential for the exact reason that you just mentioned that the format of audio is so good for reaching people.

And the thing I love about audio versus video is that a person can be. They can be driving their car. They have been going for a walk. They can be cleaning their house. They can, I don't know how you would mow the lawn because I don't think you'd be able to hear it, but you can do a lot of stuff while you're listening to audio as opposed to, you know, video, which if you're actually really paying attention, you know, you kind of have to.

Look at it. So that's why I'm comfortable with not doing video, although I appreciate the fact that, that it's, it's a very powerful tool. I mean, I'm the person who, when I go to the website, I don't watch the videos. I say I look for the, where did they put the written instructions? In fact, I have a coach who has all these videos and she's learned that she's just going to send me the PDFs because I don't want to watch the video.

So it may be a generational thing, but. You know, I'm a baby boomer. There's plenty of people in my boom's still left. Yeah, for sure. Yeah, I mean, I think also like audio is kind of the sweet spot where it's easily accessible and you also, like you said, you can do it while doing other things, driving, transporting, you know, basically all the stuff that I've stopped doing.

So actually I've had my podcast kind of pile up because I've stopped commuting to work and I stopped, you know, doing all this stuff that where I, where I used to listen to podcasts. It's been a, it's been pretty bad. I'm going to have quite a backlog once I get back to everything. Right. And that's, you know, that's why it's hard to know what's going to happen.

Rob Walch from, from Lipson, he, he's been talking on the feed about how the last slump in, in podcast advertising happened in 2008 with the, with the financial crisis in 2008 and I remember that because I had one. Really great advertising campaign with the Navy, and then the rates just went through the bottom.

I mean, they just, they went way down. So people, podcasts, which you rely on, on advertising, are really going to be, you know, hurting in the next, you know, foreseeable future. And then the people who are making their living off of production, you know, audio editing and things like that are probably also gonna, you know, struggle a little for me.

My show's established and I can survive on a plateau for a while, but if I was somebody just starting out, I'm not saying you shouldn't start now. But this might be a good time to be in the planning phases, right. And, and really get everything aligned up. Maybe if, I think if I was starting a new show at this point, what I might consider doing is getting a large number of interviews in the can, right.

And then launching in the fall, maybe when people are hopefully going to be back on a more regular schedule and then you won't have that time pressure of trying to put out a show every week. So we can make the best of it. Yeah, definitely. Don't have this be dead time. Have it be useful, actually. Yeah. So what is, what are some, what is some advice that you have for people in the neuroscience field?

Neurotechnology in general, like through your experience in the field and, and having talked to so many people. Well, I always, I always ask my guests to give advice to students because I have so many student listeners, and one of the things that, that many of my guests say, which I think applies to us whether or not we're students or not, is to choose something that, that you're really passionate about.

In other words, if you were going to do a podcast. Unless you are intentionally planning a very short run series that's gonna like say go 12 episodes in and, but if you want to do it for a prolonged period of time, you've got to pick something that you're really passionate about. I picked neuroscience because I felt like I wasn't going to run out of material, which has certainly proven to be true every time.

I think that I've kind of gotten. You know, into a stuck point. I turn around and I've got a bunch of new books in my mailbox and I'm like, and I get enthused again. So if the subject doesn't light you up, you're not going to last. I think the, the old writing advice, you know, to re, you know, which is write what you know, probably applies to podcasting too.

Yeah, definitely. I would completely agree. I mean, you know, even even in the field of, even in the sub field of neural implants, you know, especially the guests that I have a little bit more familiarity with, it's much easier for me versus something like, you know, computational stuff or you know, programming or whatever, and they're just like, Oh shoot, this is a bit outside of what I know and what I can intelligently speak about.

But also, I guess not. What I'm interested in. I am interested in it, but maybe not to the extent to the other stuff. So I completely agree, and I think you've shown this very well. It's, it's not a sprint, it's a marathon, you know? And then when you're, when you're planning your interviews, I think they're, the most obvious rule is read ahead of time.

You know, you know, if you listen to interviews in the mainstream media, you can lots of times tell that they haven't read anything by the person that they're interviewing, right? So even if you're interviewing somebody who's only who's written a paper or whatever, you want to have read their work. And then when you're thinking about your interview, I recommend making your questions.

Ask yourself, well, what is the one thing about this person's work that I want my listeners to understand? And then gear all your questions to that. And most scientists don't mind if you say to them, can you back up for a minute and explain what you meant by XYZ? If you're making a show for nonspecialists, they don't have to understand everything, but they need to be able to understand the big picture and they don't like being talked down to.

I mean, the show I do basically goes against all the, all the dogma about how to do science. Broadcasting. You know, if you look at mainstream media, everything is so watered down. There's this assumption that people won't understand it or that you need a bunch of special effects, which of course obviously don't have and neither one.

I think neither one of those things are true, but you do have to be able to make it clear. Why should I, the guy off the street care about this? I mean, you're doing a show about neural implants. I think probably, you know that. That's not as hard as it might be for some other show. I always like to joke that it's a lot easier to make a podcast about neuroscience because everybody does have a brain, and neuroscience really does affect us as individuals, whereas like most of us are not affected by quantum mechanics, so it doesn't matter whether we understand it or not.

Yeah, I mean, I know we are affected by quantum mechanics on some level, but you know what I mean? We're not making day to day decisions based on her understanding of quantum mechanics. Yeah, exactly. Kind of make it relevant. Bring it, bring it all home. Right. And I'm not mean telling them what to think. I am also a big believer in trusting that the science can speak for itself.

You know, decide what the key idea is. Help your guest to share that key idea. And then you have to trust your listeners. Yeah, for sure. This is really interesting stuff. I love it. Um, you know, especially coming from, you know, like I said, one of the biggest science podcasters, you know, of our time and, and somebody who's been doing it all, I'll say pretty much from the beginning.

Yeah. There's a couple of science podcasts out there. They've been around longer than mine, but not many. Yeah, I mean, I, I, I'd have a hard time believing it honestly. Like, unless it was like radio program before, I was just like, Oh, we might as well do podcasting in addition to this, like science Friday.

That's kinda what I'm thinking. Right. I don't care that I don't count those because those are repurposed radio shows. So you're right. One of the oldest ones is probably a repurposed radio show, but there is a show called the astronomy cast, which is Pam Hamlin. Gay's done over 300 episodes of that show.

I think she launched in three 2005 while she's in the podcasting hall of fame, the only science podcast in the podcasting hall of fame, like actual hall of fame. Well, it's called the Academy of podcasters, and now it's been bought out, so it's probably going to become the Hollywood podcasting hall of fame, but the people that are currently in it are true pioneers.

Just Google Academy of podcasters hall of fame. She got a star on the Hollywood walk of fame.

No. But yeah. Yeah, it's, it's, it's a lot of work creating a science podcast, but I think it's, it's, it's a great way to share pot. I think it's a great way to share science. It just, it's just a lot of work. You have to, the thing that will keep you going if you decide to do it, and I don't know if this is your experience, but for me, it's listener feedback.

Every time I think I'm going to quit. I get an email from somebody who said, tells me, you know how it's made a difference to them. And, and that, that keeps me going. Yeah, definitely. Like the, the feedback is, is great. And the really, it's amazing kind of the connections that you create for others and then you create for yourself as well.

But another thing for me too is because I can go to conferences and I have gone to conferences kind of helping out on the meta side of things with some things, I, I'm basically in the room of, you know, a few hundred people that, you know. Portion of them who know who I am and listen to the show and everything like that.

So that's kind of an amazing thing because I have a, I have a travel podcast as well actually, and it's, it's bigger than the Nerland pop podcast, but you know, it's just diffuse, like it's all over the world. So I would never in the wild run into one of my listeners, but at one of the conferences, it really, it does happen and people are, you know, people like it, you know?

And so that, that also kind of motivates me a little bit further, cause it's just like, it's not just numbers on a screen, it's actual. People and it's actual, you know, it's, it's has real life consequences I guess. So, Dr. Campbell, this has been excellent. Thank you so much for coming on. Is there anything that we didn't talk about that you wanted to mention?

Yeah. And, and I have a free newsletter on my website, so if somebody says, well, I'd like to know when that book is really happening. Who's got a brain science podcast.com and sign up for the newsletter. You get. Show notes automatically and know when the book is finally a reality. Excellent. I'm looking forward to it and especially looking forward to the audience

guys. Hopefully you enjoyed that. Yeah, it was interesting. Afterwards we talked about, you know, how hard it is to make money podcasting and how little it is, and you know, she's like, Oh, you can put some of your episodes behind a pay wall, or, you know, do a Patrion and have people donate to you. But with how niche this show is, I don't think I'd be making too much.

And I don't think, I don't want to do that to you guys. Like, and only earn 20 bucks a month, you know, sell out my soul for 20 bucks a month, or you know, 30 or whatever. I might end up earning from that. But I do this for the love of the topic and the. The people that are in it and just reaching out and everything like this.

I think it's really good, but I mean, please do remember that I do offer other services, and so if you're interested in either advertising on a podcast or making your own podcast, or filming a promotional video for example, or a conference, or you know, a panel or whatever, I'm doing three D animations, then I'm available for this as well.

The email is. Latin@neuralimplant.media and so yeah, I can do all your media needs. Even things like making some figures in, in some journal articles. I've seen some really, really ugly figures, really ugly photos, and I can make that a little bit better. Just that much better. To, to make it more attractive.

And you know, it's a small thing, but it's a is, it's a very real thing. And I've seen people close and I've seen people just stop reading. If they saw like an especially hideous graphic, then yeah, let me know. Let me know and I'll see if I can help you out. Hope you enjoyed the show and were able to learn something new, bringing together different fields in novel ways.

Until next time on the neural implant podcast.

Keeping a company in business during a major recession can be like keeping a boat afloat amidst stormy waters. The neurotech company Neuros Medical was created in the middle of the Great Recession of 2008, and still fares well even during the current recession brought on by COVID-19. In this episode, Jon Snyder, the founder of Neuros Medical, discusses, during the NYC Neuromodulation 2020 Online Conference, how the company was founded and succeeded during the Great Recession, and what advice a neurotech company should follow in the face of limited funding and capital.

Top three takeaways:

1. During the Great Recession, when Neuros Medical was starting out, the economic world was very uncertain from day to day, and you never really knew which neurotech companies would be able to maintain enough funding to survive.
2. Neuros Medical fared so well because it was very focused and determined, but above all, very capital efficient. It didn't rely on hundreds of millions of dollars, and could do a lot with a little.
3. When running a neurotech company during a difficult time like this, it is important to ask yourself why you're doing this, remember that your products will eventually help patients, and remember that tough times don't last, but tough people do.

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode

[3:20] Ladan introduces and discusses Neural Implant Media

[6:00] Jen French discusses how various companies fared throughout the Great Recession, and how some companies did better than others

[10:00] Jon Snyder introduces himself and discusses the nerve block created by Neuros Medical

[12:45] The bulk of testing for the nerve block happens in the US because the US is where Neuros Medical received the necessary Investigational Device Exemption for the pilot studies

[16:30] The company was incorporated in 2008, in the heart of the Great Recession

[20:00] During the Great Recession, the economic world was changing every day, to the point where you didn't know from day to day whether a neurotech company was going to be able to raise any more necessary capital

[24:00] Snyder discusses how those in academia can get a better understanding of the funding landscape and better interact with funders

[27:45] Snyder's mindset is to be very capital efficient, which worked out very well when the company first started

[31:15] Snyder discusses liquidity as the company raises capital and how this will change going forward

[33:15] People losing their jobs nowadays increases the pool of talented candidates for the company, which is an optimistic way of looking at things

[35:45] The company was successful because it was very focused and capital efficient, which may have been how other companies were successful during the Great Recession

[40:30] It is important to be able to know whether your company would fare better as more management heavy or more tech-heavy

[43:45] As a neurotech company, what you're working on will eventually help patients, which is something very important to think about when you think about why you're doing what you're doing

[46:20] Tough times don't last, but tough people do. It's what's inside of us that can help us get through this setback.

[48:00] Neurotech Entrepreneur Working Network is a great network for entrepreneurs to share ideas and advice for the success of new neurotech ventures

[52:40] Ladan briefly discusses the Neurotech Entrepreneur Working Network again

During unusual times like this, it is more important than ever to have good communication with your peers in the neurotech industry. In this episode, Avery Bedows and JoJo Platt discuss, at the NYC Neuromodulation 2020 Online Conference, the importance of having a good network of peers, and how to establish such a network and keep it robust.

Top three takeaways:

1. It is very important in fields such as neurotech to build up a good and reliable network and to have clear communication, especially during times like this with the COVID-19 pandemic
2. When receiving a request from someone asking to be added to your network that you don't know, it is important to learn more about the person by searching for mutual connections, and what their work involves
3. It's hard to learn about things you don't know you need to learn, and it takes humility and willingness to learn a new skill set for a different work environment

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode

[2:20] Avery Bedows introduces himself, gives his background, and discusses his consulting group, called the Substrate Group

[5:45] Bedows discusses his framework of story world, storyline, and storytelling

[9:10] Ladan gives a bit of background about himself, the podcast, and Neural Implant Media

[12:30] JoJo Platt of Behind the Bench discusses what she does as it relates to helping clients create strategic partnerships and collaborations

[15:20] When receiving a request to be added to your network from someone you don't know, it is important to see who they are, what your mutual connections are, and whether they are legit

[20:00] It may be in bad taste to post content that is superfluous and redundant during this time

[24:30] If you do not have lab access to learn about a topic, learn by reading (and by binging this podcast)

[27:30] It's hard to learn about things you don't know you need to learn, and it takes humility to admit that the business world comes with a different skill set that is necessary than for academia

[30:00] The biggest hurdle to getting your idea out into the real world has to do with regulatory obstacles rather than communicatory obstacles

Dr. Shelley Fried is an associate professor at Massachusetts General Hospital, the teaching hospital to Harvard Medical School. His work involves retinal prostheses and using electromagnetic fields to stimulate neurons. In this episode, he discusses these fields of research, as well as goals and challenges with each of them.

Top three takeaways:

1. The main challenge with current retinal prostheses is that the visual acuity it provides is so poor that it cannot be meaningfully used for most daily applications, so there is a need for a narrower and more specific region of stimulation within the retina.
2. Non-contact magnetic stimulation using coils has the advantage of avoiding a lot of challenges faced with electrodes, and it provides more specific and confined stimulation.
3. The goal with magnetic stimulation coils is to clinically test them in a number of blind patients and compare the obtained visual acuity relative to that obtained from electrodes.

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Dr. Shelley Fried

[2:15] Fried discusses his background and how he came to study retinal prostheses

[5:00] Visual prostheses work by mirroring the visual pathway; in diseases involving retinal damage, the prostheses target downstream bipolar cells

[8:20] A major challenge with stimulating visual neurons is that since they are packed into such a small space, being able to manufacture electrodes small enough to fit into the retina and accurately implant them is difficult

[11:45] The retinal prosthesis has the advantage of not involving direct surgical procedures with the brain

[15:30] The main goal now is to get the electrodes closer together to activate a narrower region of the retina in order to improve visual acuity

[18:30] There are a number of barriers to getting these visual prostheses on the market, namely that the vision it provides cannot be meaningfully used due to the visual acuity being so poor

[21:30] By properly activating ON cells without simultaneously activating OFF cells in the retina, the goal is to be able to recreate natural signaling to the retina

[25:30] There are a lot of issues that arise with electrodes, such as charge density limitations, foreign body response, and stability

[28:00] Non-contact magnetic stimulation evades these concerns, and the coils used can safely activate neurons in the cortex

[31:00] With electric stimulation, cells far from the stimulation site can be stimulated, but with magnetic stimulation, the stimulation is much more specific and confined more to the stimulation site

[34:30] Current is not being deposited directly into tissue, but is passing through the coiled wire where it generates the magnetic field for stimulation

[38:00] After successfully conducting surgical tests for these coils, the goal is to clinically test the devices in a number of blind patients and observe the resulting visual acuity

[42:00] Changing stimulation location and parameters is easier with these coils, and the interaction between the induced fields from multiple coils is being looked into

[44:00] Ladan gives further thoughts on the discussion with Dr. Fried

Dr. Robert Riener is a professor at ETH Zurich in Switzerland. His research involves exoskeletons, brain-computer interfaces, and EEG. He is also in charge of running the Cybathlon in ETH Zurich, which is an Olympic-like event where patients with disabilities compete, using assistive robotic devices. In this episode, he discusses the Cybathlon, its events, and its goals and purpose.

Top three takeaways:

1. The Cybathlon is a major athletic competition where the participants use assistive robotic devices and prosthetics to compete in the events, which are centered around daily life activities.
2. The main purpose of the Cybathlon is to promote inclusion of people with disabilities.
3. Most of the teams are developing specific technologies to participate in the Cybathlon, so this event has also helped spark a movement in creating new robotic technologies.

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Dr. Robert Riener

[2:20] Riener discusses his research and how the robotic devices that he researches work

[6:30] Cybathlon is an athletic competition for disabled people who use robotic devices; there are several events including the brain-computer interface race

[9:00] Russia also enjoys this event, and is coordinating their own similar event. President Putin has stated that he is willing to organize the next international Cybathlon event in Russia in 2024.

[12:30] The most important goal of the Cybathlon is to support the inclusion of people with disabilities into athletic events

[15:00] The obstacle courses in the events are centered around daily life events; for example, an activity for patients with arm prosthetics may involve the use of the BCI arm to manipulate and carry objects

[18:30] The awards in the competition include not only a medal and a cup, but also the honor of participating, and the "Swiss experience"

[21:00] "Techno-doping" is approved, and even encouraged, as long as it is done in a safe manner

[25:00] About 80% of the teams competing in the Cybathlon are developing completely new technologies, or are updating existing technologies

[28:20] This could be the biggest brain-computer interface event that's ever happened

Dr. Andrew Wilder is the CEO of Ripple Neuro, a medical device company which specializes in neural interface technology and neuroprosthetics. In this episode, he discusses how the company plans to progress in the next decade, as part of their big 10-year announcement.

Top three takeaways:

1. One big advancement that Ripple Neuro is planning to make in the next decade is to hold clinical trials for neuroprosthetic upper limbs, and obtain market clearance for these devices
2. As far as the company itself goes, Ripple Neuro will be restructuring itself over the next decade to accommodate markets for both end medical devices and components for medical devices
3. Ripple Neuro is constantly seeking those who are passionate about the long-term sustainability of the company, as well as those who have a passion for solving challenges and having an impact on the world

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Dr. Andrew Wilder

[1:45] Wilder discusses his background, how he became CEO of Ripple Neuro, and what the mission of Ripple Neuro is

[5:15] Ripple's goal for the next few decades is to continue to provide solutions in the neuroscience space that can inform therapies for patients with neurological disorders

[8:15] Ripple plans on doing clinical trials with prosthetic limbs over the next five years, after which the product is projected to receive market clearance

[10:20] Ripple is producing both medical devices and components that other vendors can use in their medical devices, and part of the company's big announcement is that the company is restructuring itself to accommodate both of these markets

[13:00] Ripple is not about developing solely one type of technology, but rather a continuous pipeline of technologies

[16:30] The company looks for people who are passionate about long-term sustainability of the company, and people who are committed to the idea of having an impact on the world

[19:00] Ripple has always had an expertise in sensing in stimulation, which is what some other companies are starting to work with

[21:45] An impact goal for the next 10 years is to have 10,000 devices implanted in humans

Dr. Kevin Tracey is the president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. He is very well-known and well-cited for his seminal research within the field of neuromodulation, particularly as it relates to the immune response. In this episode, he discusses the current progress being made in the field of bioelectronic medicine, as well as how it compares to pharmaceutical treatments.

Top three takeaways:

1. The power in bioelectronic medicine is in the fact that rather than sending out a drug into the body and hoping it affects the target area, the target is identified and the device is designed and manufactured around it.
2. Since testing in mice is an important precursor to human clinical trials, the field of bioelectronic medicine has been greatly slowed down by the lack of available tools for device implantation in mice.
3. The field of bioelectronic medicine is in its early stages with regard to clinical testing; as such, its efficacy relative to pharmaceutical approaches is not yet fully understood.

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Dr. Kevin Tracey

[2:00] Tracey discusses his background in research in bioelectronic medicine and neuromodulation in the immune system

[6:00] What's so powerful about bioelectronic medicine is that it's scalable, replicable, and generates testable hypotheses. The device is designed around the target.

[9:00] Side effects are the main limiting factor for drugs. With devices, the side effects are easier to understand and manage since a specific nerve and region are targeted, as opposed to drugs, which have a systemic effect.

[12:30] Tracey co-founded SetPoint Medical with Dr. Shaw Warren, and it was founded to establish a mechanism to test the idea of harnessing the inflammatory reflex in human clinical trials

[16:45] When stimulating the vagus nerve, several fibers are stimulated. Despite this, controlling the amount of current delivered through stimulation can control which organs (such as the heart or spleen) are affected.

[20:30] The field of bioelectronic medicine has been slowed down by the absence of available tools that can be used for mice

[23:45] Bioelectronic medicine is still in its early stages and is new in terms of clinical testing and adoption; at this point, we don't fully know its efficacy relative to pharmaceuticals

[27:00] One study found that patients who have not responded to drugs or to vagus nerve stimulation did respond when a combination of the two was used

[31:00] The advantage of targeting close to the organ is more localized stimulation, but the disadvantage is that some of these organs are difficult to access

[34:00] The mission of the Feinstein Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine is to produce the necessary knowledge in bioelectronic medicine to cure disease

[37:00] The new labs the Feinstein Institute is building are investigating the neural control of drug targets, neural information processing, sensory and motor signals to nerves, and previously unrecognized neurons that control aspects of the immune response

Dr. Phil Kennedy is a neurologist who has implanted patients with a neural recording device that can detect firing patterns attributed to certain words.  This device can help locked-in patients communicate with others by detecting these firing patterns and outputting words on a computer. He has also had himself implanted with this same device. In this episode, Dr. Kennedy discusses how the device works, and his experience being implanted with his own device.

Top three takeaways:

1. Silent speech works by recording neural firing patterns that occur when a patient thinks about a word many times. Once these patterns are stored, the patient can communicate this word by thinking about it and outputting it onto a computer.
2. Speech makes you more human; speech allows you to contact and connect with people. It is therefore important that implant centers are available worldwide so that locked-in patients everywhere have access to this technology to be able to communicate.
3. Neurosurgery is not dangerous if the surgeon knows what he's doing. We think of the brain as more precious, but brain surgery is not much more dangerous than cosmetic surgery.

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Phil Kennedy, who explains how he decided to be implanted

[3:45] Kennedy explains the procedure he underwent in Belize and how and where the electrodes were implanted

[6:00] Kennedy explains how since the incision wouldn't fully close, the electronics eventually had to be removed

[9:20] In neural recording, slow-firing units should not be ignored, as they may contribute substantially to the accuracy of the signal

[11:45] Silent speech can be obtained by giving a patient a word to think about several times and recording the firing patterns that happen

[15:00] Obtaining more firing units can be used to distinguish the firing patterns brought on by similar sounding words

[19:00] More units are not entirely necessary for a prosthetic; rather, conditioning the units already obtained may be more effective

[21:30] Without resolution in the recorded signal, true signal from each unique firing patterns is difficult to obtain. Garbage in, garbage out.

[24:00] Kennedy explains how he has the idea of opening up implant centers around the world to help more locked-in patients communicate

[27:20] Neurosurgery is not dangerous if the surgeon knows what he's doing

[30:15] Kennedy explains why the signals obtained through electrodes last over time; features of the electrode prevent scarring at the site of implantation and collect accurate signals over time

[33:45] You don't need a high channel count for a prosthetic; you need stable signals over time that can be used as often as needed

[37:00] Ladan gives an outro for the episode and discusses a book and documentary coming out called Unlocking Eric, which documents one of Dr. Kennedy's patients

Dr Mounya Elhilali did the keynote talk at the NER Neural Engineering conference in Baltimore in 2023. I was able to sit down with her and talk to learn more about her auditory processing selectivity research.

Top 3 Takeaways:

•  Nurses especially can get used to beeping and alarms which can be dangerous for patients.
• "Under anesthesia, you see some basic responses, but they are different than when you engage the, let's say, an animal in an awake state, and then when they are awake and actually behaving and engaging with the system"
• Audio recordings can be tuned to remove ambient noise but they need to be perfectly calibrated to distances between microphones.

0:45 "Do you want to describe your work a little bit?"

3:00 Can you talk about the Cocktail Party Problem?

4:30 How are alarms and beeping override our attention

8:30 How do you gather your data, what kinds of devices?

10:00 What is the role of awake vs non-awake states in auditory processing?

11:15 How did you get into this?

13:00 How are you involved in the translation of the science?

16:15 Why are recordings harder to hear than in real life?

17:15 Is there anything we didn't talk about?

Dr. Kika Tuff is an ecologist and science communicator who founded Impact Media Lab, an organization which consists of scientists who seek to change the world through powerful storytelling. In this episode, she discusses the power of making compelling stories to spread scientific knowledge and gain a greater audience as a scientist.

Top three takeaways:

1. Telling your story effectively can improve your credibility, and can result in an increased following, such as more students and funders for your research
2. Science not communicated is science not done – people have to be able to fully understand what it is you are doing, and scientists have to know your research so that it can be replicated and verified or falsified
3. It is important for a scientist to be realistic of the fact that their field may be very niched and esoteric, but gathering even a small following is very beneficial

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Kika Tuff

[2:30] Tuff explains her background and the experiences that inspired her to create Impact Media Lab

[5:15] Tuff explains how stories and characters inspire people more than data, and how it can be very important when trying to inform policy and behavior

[8:00] A lot of times when communicating with scientists, Tuff has realized that extra time must be taken for communication and that initially, a smaller select audience must be chosen for the stories being told

[11:30] Being able to tell your story well can help improve your credibility; return on investment of good communication can be attracting more students, listeners, funders, etc.

[14:30] Important part of grant writing is being able to effectively pitch your ideas, and using compelling story writing can get ideas across better

[18:30] Tuff explains how Impact Media Lab will put together pitches for broader impact for free since the company has a template that is used

[20:45] Science not communicated is science not done

[23:30] Often times scientists get caught up in things like getting grants and publications that it can be hard to step back and ask why they do the work they do and why it fascinates them

[26:45] It is important to evaluate what a lab does and how it is unique in creating a scientist's "brand"

[29:20] Brand, website, short film, and social media are important steps in building an audience

[33:00] When branding, one must be realistic about the fact that a lot of scientific fields are very niched, but if one has only 1,000 true fans, that is successful

[35:30] Believing in the power of your work, it can be really easy to get disappointed. Even if you feel that what you do doesn't matter, there is always something compelling that attracted you to the questions you're trying to answer.

[37:30] Ladan provides additional thoughts on his conversation with Dr. Tuff

[39:00] Neural Implant Media is open to provide media services for scientists, organizations, and conferences

Nathan Copeland is a paraplegic neural implantee who has four Blackrock Utah electrode arrays implanted in his brain. He uses a robotic arm which has a wider functionality than a regular arm, and has even fist bumped the president with it. In this episode, he discusses his experiences being implanted and how using the implants has changed his life.

Top three takeaways:

1. When Nathan Copeland met President Obama and had a fist bump with him, he realized that the president was very interested in the science involved in his implants. He was able to connect personally with the president, and this reaffirmed the notion that the president is just a human being.
2. There are many different types of robotic arms with slightly different structures and functionalities, and different people may prefer different varieties. Some people prefer ones that look more anatomical, while others may prefer ones with a wider functionality.
3. Nathan Copeland initially had a fear of public speaking, but after giving presentations on his condition and the various robotic arms he used, he found that he was actually enjoying it more and more. In particular, he found it very fulfilling when people would tell him how inspired they were by his presentations, and this increased his enjoyment of public speaking.

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Nathan Copeland

[3:20] Copeland describes the accident that led to C-5 quadriplegia and his time spent on a research registry to become a subject in the BCI study that gave him the implants

[5:45] Copeland discusses the screening process he had to go through to become a part of this study and how he knew he wanted to be a part of it despite his mother's opposition to it

[9:30] Copeland talks about the pain and discomfort he went through following the implantation of the electrode arrays

[13:20] When Copeland went to meet President Obama, he was told that the president was "just a person". When Copeland did meet the president, it was obvious that he seemed very interested in the science behind the implants and was able to bond with Copeland as a person.

[15:45] The training Copeland needed to use the robot limbs controlled by the implants was never something that he had to really work for

[18:45] The robotic arm that Copeland uses is a non-anatomical arm, and he likes it because it can move in his workspace in ways a regular anatomical arm cannot

[22:15] Different people may have different preferences in what they would want in a robotic arm – some would prefer a traditional anatomical arm, while others would want an arm with more functionality even if it looks unconventional

[25:00] One of Copeland's biggest dreams that recently came true was to travel to Japan – he had wanted to visit Japan his whole life, and he knew that his condition would have made it very difficult

[28:30] Copeland used to have anxiety when it came to public speaking, but after giving his presentation on the robotic arms he has used, it gets easier for him the more he presents it. A lot of people have been inspired by his presentations, and he now very much enjoys the experiences.

[32:10] Copeland would like to see an improvement in the robotic arms used by the BCI systems

[35:30] Copeland has a YouTube channel called BCI Can Do Better where he demonstrates the various activities he can do with his BCI system, such as playing Final Fantasy XIV

Nathan Copeland's email address is bcicandobetter@gmail.com

Dr. Alie Caldwell, a.k.a. Alie Astrocyte, is a neuroscientist who is well-known for her YouTube channel Neuro Transmissions. In this episode, she discusses the YouTube channel, how it was created, what types of videos the channel produces, how the videos are made, and what she has gained out of it.

Top three takeaways:

1. In doing this channel, Alie Caldwell has had to overcome the challenge of maintaining a good work-life balance, since this channel is not her full-time career.
2. In academia, you are taught to feel as though you don't know anything, which can make people feel hung up on inaccuracies; however, a lot of the time, you can explain something with simple terms and it will still be accurate.
3. When building a YouTube channel, the most important thing is to realize what your goals are; you have to ask what you want to communicate, who you want to reach, and what is unique about your content.

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Alie Caldwell

[1:30] Caldwell talks about her YouTube channel, the type of content she produces, and who her target audience is

[4:30] Caldwell explains how a special event in her graduate program helped her get into making neuroscience videos

[6:45] The biggest challenge when starting the channel was that since neither Caldwell nor her YouTube partner Micah does YouTube full-time, maintaining a good work-like balance while doing this "side project" became difficult at times

[8:30] The channel tries to put out a video every two weeks, and every video takes roughly 20-30 hours to create and edit depending on the style and amount of animation

[12:15] The content the channel puts out is high-level enough that Caldwell is confident enough in her research on the topic to be able to teach the topic without fear of inaccuracies

[14:45] Caldwell recently finished her PhD and is currently employed by the Bigelow Memorial Science Communication Fellowship

[17:45] Both Caldwell and her YouTube partner Micah are trying to figure out their next career steps; they are not intending to have YouTube be their full-time career

[21:00] The most important thing is realizing what your goals are with your videos; what are you trying to get across, who are you trying to reach, and what is unique about your videos?

[23:45] This YouTube channel was an opportunity to build a portfolio and stand out from other scientists with a distinct skill set

[27:30] One main thing that Caldwell learned from the YouTube channel is public speaking and translating it into a video personality

We know you are facing challenging times in this current health crisis. The U.S. Small Business Administration is committed to help bring relief to small businesses and nonprofit organizations suffering because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. 

On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the CARES Act, which provided additional assistance for small business owners and non-profits, including the opportunity to get up to a $10,000 Advance on an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). This Advance may be available even if your EIDL application was declined or is still pending, and will be forgiven.

If you wish to apply for the Advance on your EIDL, please visit www.SBA.gov/Disaster as soon as possible to fill out a new, streamlined application. In order to qualify for the Advance, you need to submit this new application even if you previously submitted an EIDL application. Applying for the Advance will not impact the status or slow your existing application.

Also, we encourage you to subscribe to our email updates via www.SBA.gov/Updates and follow us on Twitter at @SBAgov for the latest news on available SBA resources and services. If you need additional assistance, you can find your local SBA office and resource partners at www.SBA.gov/LocalAssistance. If you have questions, you may also call 1-800-659-2955.

Daniel Powell is the CEO of Spark Biomedical, a medical device company based in Texas whose mission is to develop effective, wearable neurostimulation devices. In this episode, he discusses an auricular nerve stimulator to aid in the relief of opioid withdrawal both in adults and newborn infants.

Top three takeaways:

1. This auricular, transcutaneous nerve stimulator device works to alleviate opioid withdrawal by stimulating the necessary nerves to kickstart endogenous endorphin release in the brain.
2. A major part of opioid addiction is avoiding withdrawals; opioids chemically replace endorphins and bind to opioid receptors, and the brain no longer produces endogenous endorphins, so that when the user no longer takes the drugs, they no longer have the necessary chemicals to deal with anxiety and pain. This is what makes opioid withdrawals unique and is why opioid addicts try so hard to avoid them.
3. When starting a project, it is highly beneficial to have a diverse team of people with different skill sets that can contribute to every aspect of the project.

[0:00] Powell explains his job  – Spark Biomedical is currently developing an auricular, transcutaneous nerve stimulator designed to stimulate specific cranial nerve branches and is designed to relieve opioid withdrawal

[3:45] There is some evidence to support the efficacy of acupuncture-based stimulation for treating opioid withdrawal in adults, which is the basis for the creation of the non-invasive auricular nerve stimulator

[7:15] The ear pieces are easy to apply and disposable – since there are no needles, it is easy to replace the ear pieces as needed

[9:15] When observing withdrawal symptoms in adults using this device, one can observe that the common symptoms – shaking, sweating, etc. – approach a normal level over a 60-minute window

[10:45] So far, there have not been issues with the FDA, as Spark Biomedical has completed their pre-submission process, where they write down the questions to be answered by the FDA

[13:30] This is Spark Biomedical's first main project; the company was formed specifically for this project at the end of 2018, and there was a good network of people to call on for both scientific and financial applications

[16:45] When someone is addicted to opioids, they are not simply chasing euphoria, but are also trying to run away from withdrawals

[20:45] During acute withdrawal, the stimulator helps to jump-start the brain to produce the endogenous endorphins necessary to occupy opioid receptors, which helps to alleviate withdrawal

[23:45] A good dose of endogenous endorphins can alleviate withdrawal symptoms for a long time; one subject who used the stimulator device for an hour felt no withdrawal symptoms for six hours after removing the device

[25:15] The project is currently in clinical trials for adults, and Spark Biomedical is currently partnered with MUSC to run the trials for infants; the hope is that the product is on market for adults in the second half of 2020

[28:15] A good piece of entrepreneurial advice is to have a diverse team with different educational backgrounds and skill sets to be able to contribute to every aspect of the project

[31:30] A challenge when building the company is that it was built remotely, and does not convene in a single office

[34:00] The company was built on people who were tired of corporate life, and pays based on results rather than hours

This outbreak of COVID-19 is a very difficult time for scientific research. A lot of experiments are being interrupted and put on pause, and conference travels are essentially not possible. In this episode, Ladan discusses what steps are being taken by government grant-funding agencies to assist researchers during this time.

Top three takeaways:

1. Grant-funding agencies such as the NIH and NSF are extending deadlines for grants and experiments, and late applications are being accepted without the need for pre-approval.
2. NIH grant money can be used to cover fees incurred from interrupted travel, as well as changing any protocols as necessary.
3. The safety and health of researchers and research participants alike is the number one priority during this time.

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode

[1:30] The NIH and the NSF will extend the deadline for many grants and experiments during this time

[3:45] Dr. Mike Lauer from the NIH explains the implications of this pandemic on scientific research and the way the NIH will be cooperating with researchers during this time

[5:30] The NIH has put out a guide notice stating that late applications will not need pre-approval

[8:00] Hotel and airline refund fees, as well as any other fees incurred due to interrupted travel, can be charged to NIH grants

[9:45] There will be opportunities to apply for administrative supplements to cover costs incurred due to changing protocols and venues

[11:00] This is a very difficult time, but also a time of compassion

Info on how NIH is responding to the outbreak: https://www.nih.gov/health-information/coronavirus

Message from Dr. Mike Lauer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLmBi5wvifk&feature=youtu.be

Info on how NSF is responding to the outbreak: https://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/coronavirus/

Producer's log: I wrote these notes while in quarantine. Ladan locked me up in a tiny room and I don't know why. He said it was for my own good, and that he'll let me out "once the storm passes". I haven't been outside in over 2 weeks. I miss the world. I miss the laughter. I miss the sunshine. Someone please help me.

Producer's log update: OK I'm just kidding, I'm not really locked in a little room. But I do miss socializing with people, I'm starting to get very lonely.

Jeremy Magland and James Jun are researchers at the Flatiron Institute whose work involves spike sorting for analysis of large recorded neuronal data sets. In this episode, at the SfN 2019 Conference, they discuss the Flatiron Institute, spike sorting and the various algorithms involved in it, as well as an open-source algorithm the Flatiron Institute has developed for spike sorting and how it works.

Top three takeaways:

1. The Flatiron Institute, a division of the Simons Foundation, uses modern computing tools to advance scientific understanding, and they provide open-source code to aid labs in data analysis.
2. Spike sorting algorithms take recorded extracellular data and use statistical methods to group it into clusters, from which it determines the number of neurons that are firing. The difference in clustering and sorting depends on the specific type of analysis the algorithm runs.
3. MountainSort is an open-source spike sorting software that is distinct in that it doesn't require as many input parameters as other algorithms do.

[0:40] Ladan introduces the episode and the guests, James Jun and Jeremy Magland, at SfN 2019; Jun gives his background and what he is studying

[3:40] Jun explains how spike sorting uses extracellular recordings to receive signals from different neurons at once

[4:55] Magland gives his background and what he is studying

[8:05] There's a rainbow

[9:10] Magland and Jun explain some advantages/benefits of the Flatiron Institute, a research division of the Simons Foundation; the institute creates open-source software to help labs with spike sorting

[11:40] Jun discusses the Simons Foundation, how they started, how they created the Flatiron Institute, and the types of projects they fund

[14:10] MountainSort is the open-source spike sorting algorithm developed by Flatiron which clusters spikes by using a statistical method to detect differences in spike densities and separate the neurons accordingly. This doesn't require adjustable parameters as input, unlike other software.

[16:40] Jun discusses some differences in certain spike sorting algorithms and the type of analysis they use to sort spikes into different clusters and differentiate the neurons

[19:55] Magland and Jun are looking forward to enhanced hardware and computing capabilities that improve the speed and accuracy of spike sorting

Dr. Pablo Celnik is a professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Buzz is a spinal cord injury patient who has recently received implants to help him regain sensory and motor control of his body. In this episode, they discuss the project directed by Dr. Celnik that involves the implantation of a bilateral set of implants that has been effective in helping Buzz regain sensory and motor control.

Top three takeaways:

1. Buzz's implants are unique due to the number of implants, and due to the fact that they are bilaterally implanted.
2. The future of this project depends on factors such as funding and reapproval, and will likely involve observing how the addition of sensory information will help improve motor performance.
3. It is important for spinal cord injury patients to understand that despite their injury, they can live a productive and happy life.

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guests, Dr. Pablo Celnik and Buzz, a spinal cord injury patient, at SfN 2019; Buzz gives a background of his injury and condition

[3:30] Dr. Celnik gives a background of his research, his department, and the project he is currently working on in neurorehabilitation

[6:30] Buzz is special in that his implants are bilateral and more numerous; he has arrays in the dominant and non-dominant side, in both motor and somatosensory cortices

[8:45] Buzz discusses his experience with learning to control his body using his implants

[12:45] Dr. Celnik discusses his experience training Buzz with the new implants; they have started with one arm and have progressed to doing more complicated movements with both arms

[16:15] Like any other research project, this project depends on every component's support, including funding and yearly reapproval. The future for this project includes evaluating how the addition of sensory information helps with motor performance.

[18:50] Buzz has also been involved in patient advocacy, where he has mentored and guided other spinal cord injury patients in a peer mentoring program

[22:00] Dr. Celnik mentions the significance of this type of work to help spinal cord injury patients restore their quality of life

[25:00] Patients like Buzz illustrate how the field of neuroscience can be translated to a practical, significant application

Jennifer French and James Cavuoto are editors and publishers for Neurotech Reports, a news source whose mission is to provide up-to-date information about the field of neurotechnology that impacts research and venture capital. In this episode, they discuss some updates and recent events happening within the last month in the industry of neurotechnology.

Top three takeaways:

1. The 2020 North American Neuromodulation Society Annual Conference was a very informative and successful conference, and the Emerging Technologies Forum hosted by Neurotech News had great attendance and presentations
2. Companies such as Medtronic are starting to capitalize on the use of glial cells in modulating pain networks
3. Neurotech Reports will be hosting the Bioelectronic Medicine Forum which focuses on both the research and financial realms of bioelectronic medicine and neurotechnology

 

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the two guests, Jennifer French and James Cavuoto, who start by discussing the North American Neuromodulation Society Annual Conference in Las Vegas, NV

[3:40] French and Cavuoto discuss how large the event was and that it will likely take place again given the excellent turnout

[4:45] The role of glial cells in pain networks was a very significant discussion according to Cavuoto; Medtronic is capitalizing on this with a startup called Stimgenics that they have recently acquired

[6:45] A recent publication of Neurotech Business Report has discussed some failures of certain neurotech companies

[8:20] The 2020 Bioelectronic Medicine Forum hosted by Neurotech Reports will take place in New York City on April 7, 2020, and it hones in on the bioelectronic medicine aspect of neurotechnology

[10:40] Neurotech Reports has released an updated version of two whitepapers, one of which describes funding opportunities for startups, and one discusses venture capital funding

Charles Lieber, a researcher in the field of chemistry and nanotechnology, has been arrested on charges of making false statements to the US government regarding his monetary ties to China. In this episode, JoJo Platt discusses his arrest, the events surrounding it, and what it could mean for the field and future international collaborations.

Top three takeaways:

1. Charles Lieber did not disclose his ties to China while receiving grant money from US government institutions
2. The US Senate believes China's Thousand Talents Program, to which Lieber had a direct connection, was a means to divert US intellectual property
3. We shouldn't cut all research ties to China, but we must be careful how we go about international collaborations; researchers must be open and transparent about all affiliations

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and mentions the recent news regarding Charles Lieber

[2:10] Platt hints at some future implications of Charles Lieber's arrest, and what it could mean for future collaborations, as well as a bit of the background on Charles Lieber and the events leading up to him getting arrested

[5:30] Platt discusses the timeline of Lieber making arrangements with China to receive grant funding

[8:20] Lieber had failed to disclose his relationships to China while receiving grant money from institutions such as the NIH and the US Department of Defense, which is illegal

[11:00] Chinese Thousand Talents Program recognized by US Senate as a program intended to divert US intellectual property, part of Lieber's agreement with this program is that he must invite 1-3 international scientists to work as visiting scholars

[14:45] Platt believes not all research ties to China should be cut, but we must be careful about how we do it; transparency about affiliations is key

[17:45] Lab money and personal money are two distinct things; lab money is often spent without as much care as personal money

[19:15] Risk of Lieber leaving the country is low, given that he surrendered his passport when he posted bail

Suraj Mudichintala is a Senior Associate at Action Potential Capital which is GSK's bioelectronic medicine venture fund.

Top 3 Takeaways:

• "Our fund is different in that we invest actually directly off of GSK's balance sheet. So we're what's called an evergreen fund where we don't actually have a fund size"
• "The way that I think about it is that a VC is really paid to allocate capital but really is really paid to think. You really have to think about what is the next space or the next technology that could disrupt a space? And because of that, it's a much you often have to take a much more longitudinal view. And it takes a lot of patience and tracking a space oftentimes for years"
• "When you reach out to a VC having a pitch, first of all, sending a non-confidential pitch deck is mandatory, I think. And that deck is essentially where we're making the first decision as to whether or not to do a call with you"

0:45 Do you want to introduce yourself better than I just did?

1:15 "Do you wanna talk about Action Potential, what it is, who it was formed by, and the investment thesis?"

2:30 Do you want to talk about the expansion of the AP investment thesis?

4:30 What does traditional Venture Capital look like and how is it different in that you are funded by GSK?

6:15 What do the positions within a VC firm look like?

7:45 How has it been for you going from Analyst to Associate?

8:45 What does your due diligence look like?

11:45 "A lot of VCs have a target size range, be it seed or angel or, maybe larger institutional stuff. But it sounds like you guys don't really have that?"

12:45 "How did you get into this space?"

14:45 "So how does consulting compare to the VC life?"

18:45 "What would you suggest is the best way to get your attention?"

24:00 What are some tips and tricks to reaching out to you?

27:00 What was the worst pitch deck you ever saw?

28:30 " Is there anything that we didn't talk about that you wanted to mention?"

 

In this episode, Ladan interviews Ritesh Kumar, a poster presenter at the SfN 2019 conference whose research involves restoring bladder functions. Ritesh is a researcher working under Dr. Robert Gaunt in the Rehab Neural Engineering Labs at the University of Pittsburgh.

Top three takeaways:

1. The device being investigated and tested is designed to conform to changes in volume in the bladder.
2. The electrodes embedded in the device are aligned with specific functional regions of the bladder to generate optimum functionality.
3. Isovolumetric evaluations of the bladder provide the basis for future material designs.

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and Ritesh Kumar, the guest being interviewed; Ritesh gives some background on the research he is undertaking involving restoring bladder functions

[3:45] The polymer used in the material being discussed is very stretchable to conform to volume changes of the bladder

[5:20] The material is like a sock of electrodes, which is made of silicone that can conform to the shape of the bladder

[7:00] Ritesh mentions he is interested more in science and design rather than patenting the technology

[9:00] The studies the guest is conducting are at isovolumetric conditions, which are being done to make the basis for the design moving forward

[10:30] Ritesh discusses future directions for his research

Note: One additional name for acknowledgement is Maria Jantz

Dr. Bryan McLaughlin is the president of Micro-Leads, a medical device company working on implantable therapy for spinal cord stimulation. In this episode, he discusses his research and investigation into medical-grade technologies to treat spinal cord injury, as well as his collaboration with DARPA in this endeavor.

Top three takeaways:

1. The electrodes manufactured by Micro-Leads used for spinal cord stimulation target more fibers and have more electrode channels than other electrodes
2. McLaughlin is investigating medical-grade electrode technology for spinal cord stimulation that uses flexible materials
3. McLaughlin is collaborating with DARPA as part of their "bridging the gap" program for treatment of spinal cord injury

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Dr. Bryan McLaughlin, at SfN 2019

[1:15] Micro-Leads distinguishes itself from other spinal cord stimulation companies by offering electrodes that reach fibers that couldn't have been targeted previously, with more electrode channels

[4:45] This technology specifically targets pain, which is a major unmet need

[6:15] Dr. McLaughlin's research company has devised medical-grade electrode technology using soft, flexible materials that can be used to help patients with spinal cord injury.

[8:50] Dr. McLaughlin discusses collaborating with DARPA to develop technologies for treating spinal cord injury

Brandon Prestwood, an amputee, is a participant in a research program which develops advanced prosthetics and implants to restore sensory function in amputees. In this episode, he discusses his experience as an amputee in this research program, as well as the implanted device he uses to restore the lost functionality of his forearm.

Top three takeaways:

1. Medical treatments for amputees can often involve excessive medications, many of which are opioid-based, which can be problematic as it can lead to addiction.
2. Current technologies to restore limb functionality in amputees are very beneficial and promising, but there are still limitations to overcome and improvements to make.
3. It is important for this technology to be available to all amputees, so that they may restore their limb functionality and improve their quality of life.

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guest, Brandon Prestwood, on the second day of SfN 2019

[3:15] Prestwood gives a background on the accident that led to his injury and amputation

[6:30] Prestwood discusses the medications he was made to take during the course of his medical treatment, and how he believes opioids are overprescribed

[9:20] Prestwood discusses being a participant in a research program which develops implants to restore sensory function in amputees

[12:15] Prestwood discusses the implanted myoelectric device he uses to restore the functionality of his forearm

[15:00] Prestwood discusses the limitations of the device and what he can and cannot do with the device

[18:40] Prestwood discusses the surgery whereby he received the device

[22:15] It is important for every amputee to have the opportunity to restore their limb functionality. This type of technology has the capability to restore an amputee's quality of life and is incredibly beneficial to mankind.