Scientists and Engineers Assemble for NYC Neuromodulation

by JoJo Platt, senior contributing editor

August 2024 issue

The 2024 NYC Neuromodulation Conference, held at City College New York earlier this month, brought scientists, engineers, and industry experts to explore the latest advancements in brain stimulation technologies.

This annual event, a cornerstone in the field of neurotechnology, provides a fitting backdrop for discussions on cutting-edge topics. This year’s conference highlighted significant progress in noninvasive brain stimulation techniques, with a particular emphasis on new methods to reach deep brain structures. The conference also focused heavily on neurotechnology developments in the areas of addiction and depression.

Nolan Williams and Brandon Bentzley of Magnus Medical were on hand to share previously unreported clinical data on durability of effect derived from the SAINT therapy for treatment resistant depression. Magnus Medical announced plans to expand access to SAINT via an expanded network of U.S. hospitals and clinics. Newly released data indicates that a significant portion of responders remain in remission for an average of 11 weeks. While tune-ups to maintain remission require far less clinical time than the initial protocol, it begs the question whether responsive patients would benefit from reduced “tune up” sessions if they could receive a permanent implant like the one being developed by Motif Neurotech.

The area of neuromodulation in addiction medicine received substantial interest both in the full-day pre-conference workshop as well as two sessions during the regular program. The success of clinical-stage companies like Spark Biomedical has prompted increased interest in the application of energy to modulate addiction behavior or outcomes. Whether using tDCS, TMS, or other modalities targeting networks to understand and intervene in the disorder was a sustained hot topic throughout the event.

The conference was not limited to brain stimulation. Significant advances in spinal cord stimulation for pain management were presented. Evoked potentials—both compound action potentials as well as synaptic activity potentials—received spotlight attention from professor Ilona Obara of Newcastle University and Mahima Sharma of City College of New York, while the University of Michigan’s Scott Lempka walked through computational models of both. Finally, Chet Moritz presented an update on non-invasive SCS for arm and hand function in SCI patients as an update on the progress being made by the commercial entity ONWARD Medical.

Beyond the excellent scientific content presented throughout the program, the organizers hit their marks for both the Women in Neurotech and Young Scientists gatherings. The former included excellent engagement with female leaders at a range of career stages walking through professional challenges and opportunities with a genuine demonstration of support for women in science and engineering. Young Scientists took advantage of the opportunity to network and grow their professional reach as well.

As the field of neuromodulation continues to evolve rapidly, the NYC Neuromodulation Conference remains a crucial platform for sharing knowledge and fostering collaborations. With the promise of more precise, effective, and accessible neural stimulation technologies on the horizon, the future of neurological and psychiatric care looks increasingly bright.