Balint Varkuti on turning neuromodulation technologies into Brain-Computer-Interfaces using software by CereGate
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
Release Date: 03/20/2023
Exploring the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis with David McMillan
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
In this episode of the Neural Implant Podcast, host Ladan speaks with , the Director of Education Outreach for the 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...
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Exploring Contract Engineering in Neurotechnology with Javier Schandy and Nicolas Barabino
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
I n this episode of the Neural Implant Podcast, host Ladan welcomes and from , 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...
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Stephen Ho: Exploring Neurotech in Cinema with the Neurratives Podcast
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
Today's guest is from Blackrock Microsystems. While we've featured Blackrock guests before, Stephen's appearance today is driven by his podcast, , where neurotech-inspired movies are reviewed and discussed. Top 3 Takeaways: "Our goal for the podcast isn't necessarily to be overly technical, requiring a neuroscience degree to understand. We're often deep in the subject matter and may get a bit jargony, but broadly, we aim to be accessible without pretending to be accomplished neuroscience researchers." “Due to the subject's nature, movies dealing with neuroscience themes...
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Eugene Daneshvar: Navigating Neurotech and Patents
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
is a University of Michigan PhD graduate working on thin film neural implants but has since transitioned into the legal side of things having passed his bar exam and working with . This interview took almost 2 years to get done but we're glad we were able to do it! Top 3 Takeaways: "I think the main thing I'll say is you don't undermine your valuation by not having an informed and intentional patent strategy, and you don't have to go cheap. You know, I feel that you have to bootstrap, but if you work with certain law firms that are very entrepreneurial friendly, and my...
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Paul Le Floch: Pioneering Neural Implant Materials with Axoft
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
"Welcome to today's episode! Our guest, , co-founder and CEO of , brings innovation to neural implants. With roots in France and a Harvard PhD, he's leading groundbreaking work. Welcome, Paul!" Top 3 Takeaways: "It's a good time to ask the question: What if we could develop solutions tailored for this problem instead of borrowing from the semiconductor industry? That's what Axsoft is about. We emphasize developing soft materials that offer better long-term biocompatibility. Additionally, these materials are suitable for micro and nano fabrication and remain stable inside the...
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Christine Schmidt: Pioneering Regenerative Neural Tissue Engineering
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
Today’s guest is who is a share who works in regenerative neural tissue engineering. Top 3 Takeaways: "We're trying to create scaffolds that can be templates for the body to repair itself, to grow around, and ultimately become natural tissue, seamlessly integrating with the body's own." "Other faculty were discouraging. This is because academia tends to prioritize scholarly pursuits such as papers and grants, often undervaluing applied work and its real-world applications." "Our clinical collaborator actively participated in the lab alongside Sarah. Together, they would work on...
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Bioel 2024 Conference panel with Drs Jon Viventi, Tracy Cui, Ellis Meng, and Ivan Minev
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
Welcome to the Neural Implant Podcast! In this episode, the podcast team presents a live panel recording from the Bio L Conference at the International Winter School on Bioelectronics in Austria in March 2024. Hosted by Ladan, the panel discusses various types of neural implants with esteemed guests: Drs . (LCP neural implants), (PEDOT electrode coatings), (parylene neural implants), and (PDMS neural implants). Tune in as they explore the fascinating world of soft implantable electrodes and brain-nervous system interfaces. Top 3 Takeaways: “In the next five or 10 years, I...
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Carles Garcia-Vitoria: Pioneering Pain Relief with Intrathecal Spinal Cord Stimulation with Spinally
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
In today's episode, we're joined by , a seasoned pain physician with a unique approach to his work. With extensive experience in regional anesthesia and pain management, Carles shares insights gained from his years of practical experience as he pursues his PhD in Spain. Top 3 Takeaways: "We believe we have the opportunity to target the site of action more effectively. That's why we've founded Spinally, the startup we're currently leading. Our goal is to pioneer intrathecal spinal cord stimulation." "The Dura Mater is highly elastic, closing approximately 80-90% within the first 30...
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Steve Goetz: Revolutionizing Mental Health Treatment as CTO of Motif Neurotech
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
is now the Chief Technology Officer at which is developing a minimally invasive neural implant for the treatment of depression and mental health issues. Steve was at Medtronic for 26 years before moving over to the startup landscape. Top 3 Takeaways: "Starting a big program that you don't know how to finish is a very expensive endeavor, and so you want to really shake out all the science risk, all the technology risk, be pretty sure you can execute a thing before you turn on that big engine because it's expensive once you go" "We know stimulation of the dorsal lateral...
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Eric Glowacki on cutting edge neural implant fabrication
Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions
is a research group leader at the Central European Institute of Technology () located in Brno, Czech Republic. There he studies neural implant fabrication and materials specializing in silicon, parylene, and polyimide devices. He has also started to designs and fabricate devices on a contract basis for other research groups and companies. And, his institute is the one that has been recently sponsoring the podcast! This podcast is sponsored by CEITEC Nano, check out their Neurotech Device Manufacturing Capabilities Top 3 Takeaways: "You can just buy stuff on the internet very simple red...
info_outlineBalint Varkuti is the CEO of CereGate which unlocks new capabilities for existing neuromodulation technologies using software.
Top 3 Takeaways:
- "the brain is naturally wired for pattern perception for learning, and that's really what we do. We send signals that the brain very quickly can pick up."
- "You do not need to exclusively be focused mentally, consciously on interpreting these signals. Rather it becomes second nature. Our favourite analogy is saying it is like braille for the brain."
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"With hardware, you sometimes have simply the disadvantage that you are married to the time point when you started. So if you started a long time ago, you started with that technology and you have a whole regulatory documentation that's building on that. So fundamentally pivoting in hardware down the road almost becomes impossible."
0:45 Do you want to introduce yourself?
3:00 What is special about the software that hasn't already been done?
11:30 The brain is plastic and the software is changing so how does it work with these two systems fighting?
13:30 How can this approach be used to treat Parkinson symptoms such as Freezing of Gait ?"
14:15 Can you read braille?
15:30 "How fast does a patient learn to use this?"
19:00 " How can a company work with you?"
21:15 You guys have been in stealth mode for 4 years, why did it take 4 years and do you have any success stories so far?
23:45 "Do you wanna talk about the regulatory pathway and how it was how to do a software versus a hardware solution?"
27:00 How did your background in behavioral sciences shape your outlook to the company?
30:15 You didn't mention coding in your background, can you talk about starting a software company without much coding experience?
31:30 You have 25 people involved in the company but doesn't seem that you have raised much money, why such a big team?
35:15 "What does the next four years look like? What's on your horizon?"
37:00 "Is there anything that we didn't talk about that you wanted to mention?"