2025 Neurotech Leaders Forum at imec

Tim Denison, Ph.D., Co-Founder, Amber Therapeutics

Tim Denison is the co-founder of Amber Therapeutics. He also holds a joint appointment in engineering science and clinical neurosciences at Oxford University, where he explores the fundamentals of physiologic closed-loop systems. Prior to that, he was a technical fellow at Medtronic plc and vice president of research & core technology for the Restorative Therapies Group, where he helped oversee the design of next generation neural interface and algorithm technologies for the treatment of chronic neurological disease. 

James Cavuoto, Editor and Publisher, Neurotech Reports

James Cavuoto is editor and publisher of Neurotech Business Report and the founder of Neurotech Reports. He is the lead author of "The Market for Neurotechnology," and "The Market for Bioelectronic Medicine," two market research reports published by Neurotech Reports. Cavuoto was the founder of Micro Publishing Press, Inc., a publishing company that helped pioneer the market for electronic publishing, digital imaging, and computer graphics. He holds a degree in biomedical engineering from Case Western Reserve University, where he studied under pioneers in the field of functional electrical stimulation. He has also studied human factors engineering at University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Cavuoto spent three years as a member of the technical staff at Hughes Aircraft Company in Los Angeles, where he worked on simulation, training, and publication products produced for the U.S. Department of Defense. Cavuoto was an adjunct professor at Rochester Institute of Technology and the author of eight books on computer graphics, electronic publishing, and digital imaging. He is a member of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. He has authored a chapter in the textbook Neuromodulation (Elsevier, 2009), as well as articles in Neuromodulation, Journal of Neural Engineering, Medical Device Daily, IEEE Spectrum, MX magazine, and the International Journal of Medical Marketing. He is coauthor, with Jennifer French, of Bionic Pioneers: Brave Neurotech Users Blaze the Trail to New Therapies (Neurotech Press, 2014).

Jeremy Koff, Senior Consulting Editor, Neurotech Reports

Mr. Koff is senior consulting editor for Neurotech Reports and president of Colibri Partners Inc., a strategic and marketing consulting firm with a primary focus in the medical device sector. The company offers services related to market and risk analysis, clinical and technology assessments, business plan development, business/financial modeling, and market research. Mr. Koff has nearly 20 years of global experience in the medical device industry with companies including Advanced Bionics Corp., Boston Scientific, MiniMed Inc., Bioness Inc, and many others. His business plans have attracted tens of millions in start-up capital. Mr. Koff holds a Bachelor's degree in biology from Middlebury College, a Masters of Public Affairs from Indiana University, and an MBA from UCLA. He is an active classically-trained musician, supporter of the arts, and is a board member of the Fender Music Foundation.

Jo Jo Platt, Senior Contributing Editor, Neurotech Reports

Jo Jo Platt brings more than 10 years experience as a neurotechnology consulant to Neurotech Reports. As the founder and president of Platt & Associates, she has helped leadership identify new opportunities, transform organizations, and build teams from the ground up. Most recently, she helped identify and establish strategic partnerships in the emerging field of bioelectronic medicine and was instrumental in the launch of the Center for Bioelectronic Medicine. Previously, Jo Jo was communications director for eDigital, where she managed all internal and external communications and built braand recognition through tradeshows and consumer events. Platt holds a bachelor's degree in communication and media studies from National University. She is currently the finance chair for the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Neural Engineering 2019 meeting.

Diana Saraceni, General Partner, Panakes SGR

Diana is the founder and managing partner of Panakes Partners. She was previously the co-founder and former managing partner at 360 Capital Partners. With 15 years of VC experience, she has invested in a significant number of companies in Italy and all over Europe in the medical device sector, and has generated several exits as IPO and M&A transactions. She holds an MSc in engineering from LaSapienza and an MBA from Luiss University.

Frank Bulens, Ph.D., Partner, imec.xpand

Frank Bulens is a Partner at imec.xpand, an early-stage and growth venture capital fund that turns hardware-driven nanotechnology innovation into successful global companies. He joined imec.xpand in 2018, assisting in raising and investing more than €400 million across Fund I and beyond. Prior to this, Frank gained extensive venture capital experience at Gimv and Capricorn Partners, focusing on investments in the broader life sciences field across Europe and the U.S. He began his career in academic research at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Leuven. Frank holds an engineering degree in chemistry and biochemistry, as well as an MSc and Ph.D. in Medical Sciences.

Victor Pikov, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CEO, Medipace, Inc.

Victor Pikov is a co-founder and CEO of Medipace Inc, a startup developing implantable neuromodulation therapies for auto-immune intestinal diseases. Victor previously worked at Galvani Bioelectronics and GlaxoSmithKline, where he oversaw development and testing of implantable pulse generators and stimulation leads for several clinical applications, including auto-immune and metabolic diseases. At the Huntington Medical Research Institutes, Victor developed neural interfaces for various chronic diseases, such as infertility, bladder paralysis, bladder spasticity/hyperreflexia, hearing and vision loss, tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea, and obesity. At the California Institute of Technology, Victor developed optogenetic viral vectors for neuronal stimulation. Victor has several patent applications for implantable neural interfaces, closed-loop neuromodulation therapies, and non-invasive glucose measurement.

Carolina Aguilar, CEO and Co-Founder, INBRAIN Neuroelectronics

Carolina Aguilar is CEO and Co-Founder of INBRAIN Neuroelectronics, a BCI therapeutics company pioneering real time precision neurology through the development of high density graphene brain interfaces with unparalleled decoding resolution and micrometric precision modulation with the mission to decode neural signals to improve people’s lives. She has mor than 20 years of expertise in healthcare out of which she was 13 years in the European headquarters of Medtronic in Switzerland, leading global businesses in brain modulation and diabetes where she managed complex markets and large teams that generated high YoY growth and innovation. Carolina is passionate about creating solutions that improve the outcomes that matter to patients and drive healthcare sustainability. Her leadership in diabetes at the Diabeter clinics contributed to the creation of a Harvard Business School Case at Medtronic. Just recently INBRAIN got FDA breakthrough designation for their innovative neural platform and delivered the world's first application of a graphene-based neural interface in humans. The company also won the Most Innovative Company of the Year in 2022 and the Norrsken IMPACT 100 award in 2023.

Arun Sridhar, Ph.D., Co-Founder, Venture Builder

Dr. Arun Sridhar is a systems physiologist and entrepreneur specializing in bioelectronic medicine. He was a founding member of GSK’s Bioelectronics R&D unit, where he led the discovery portfolio that culminated in the formation of Galvani Bioelectronics—a joint venture between GSK and Verily. Dr. Sridhar holds a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University and has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications along with 19 foundational patents in neuromodulation. He currently is a co-founder of the world's first bioelectronic medicine-focused venture builder. 

Nicolas Vachicouras, Ph.D., Co-founder and CEO, Neurosoft Bioelectronics

Nicolas Vachicouras graduated with a MSc in Microengineering from EPFL in 2014 and then started a PhD in Microelectronics at EPFL, where he focused on developing soft neural interfaces at the Laboratory of Prof. Lacour. During his PhD, Nicolas also worked as an R&D consultant for Aleva Neurotherapeutics, a neuromodulation start-up. After graduating in 2019, Nicolas co-founded Neurosoft Bioelectronics, where he acts as CEO. In addition to raising approximately $12M in funding, he was actively involved in establishing a medical grade manufacturing line for the production of neural implants, and starting clinical studies in Europe and USA.

Josh Schulman, Ph.D., Chief Scientist, Corundum Neuroscience

Josh is the Chief Scientist at Corundum Neuroscience. Before joining CNS, he led Partnerships and Innovation at Genetika+, a startup working on tools for successful drug development and personalized treatment of psychiatric disorders. Prior to that, he led regulatory and clinical affairs at MaxQ AI and helped bring one of the first radiology AI applications to the market while working closely with FDA to develop policy on AI and Software as a Medical Device (SaMD).  He continues to be active in helping develop standards and policy for medical devices and has served on industry groups addressing the use artificial intelligence and cloud computing for healthcare. For over a decade, Josh has also worked with academic technology transfer companies, small businesses, and investors across the medical device and pharma industries as well as lecturing and assisting team projects in Hebrew University’s Biodesign program. Earlier in his career, Josh worked in both large and small pharmaceutical and medical device companies, including regulatory affairs at Omrix Biopharmaceuticals. Josh’s scientific and management training began with a Ph.D. in neuroscience which used magnetoencephalography to study the impact of different brain activity modes on normal and disease states. Following a postdoc on brain biomarker development, he worked with government agencies on science strategy and program management. 

Brian Highley, CEO, Cirtec Medical

Brian Highley is an accomplished executive with nearly 30 years of medical device experience in engineering, operations, and business development. Brian began his professional career working for several notable OEMs including Picker International, Smith and Nephew Endoscopy, Baxter Healthcare, and Medtronic before moving into contract manufacturing. Brian has spent the last 24 years in contract manufacturing with Avail Medical, Nypro Healthcare, and Cirtec Medical, where he is currently the CEO. Prior to Brian’s career in the medical device industry, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps and participated in Operation Just Cause in the Republic of Panama and Operation Desert Shield/Storm in the Persian Gulf. Brian received his Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics from Mercer University. Brian and his wife, Tami, live in St. Petersburg Florida and have two children and two Westies. They enjoy traveling around the globe and crossing off things from their bucket lists.

Lothar Krinke, Ph.D., CEO, Adraxe

Lothar Krinke, Ph.D., is an expert in the field of neuromodulation for the treatment of brain disorders. He is the CEO of Adraxe, a minimally invasive neuromodulation company, and is an adjunct professor, Neuroscience, at West Virginia University. From April 2022 to December 2024, he was the CEO of Newronika, a closed-loop deep brain stimulation company. Lothar was the CEO of Welcony Inc. from 2017 to 2022. This company is commercializing transcranial magnetic stimulation, EEG, and neurophysiology products. He was the General Manager of the Medtronic Brain Modulation (DBS) business from May 2011 to 2017. In a prior role as Vice President, Research and Business Development at Medtronic Neuromodulation, he was responsible for managing internal and external research programs. Prior to joining Medtronic in 2004 as Senior Director, Bioscience Technology Development, he served as Vice President for Business Development and Executive Team member of Endogeny Bio Corp., a biotechnology startup company. Krinke has biomedical strategy expertise from top management consulting firms, including McKinsey & Company and A.T. Kearny. He completed his postdoctoral work as American Cancer Society Fellow at the California Institute of Technology and holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University at Albany. Dr. Krinke received his undergraduate education at the University Braunschweig in Germany. He is the recipient of the Rumbough Award for Dedication to and Achievements in Diabetes research from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International.

Barun Dutta, Chief Scientist and Fellow, imec

Barun Dutta is Chief Scientist at imec where he has been since 2010, and serves as a Program Director, initiating and leading R&D programs in semiconductor materials, device technology, and more recently, neurotechnology. He conceived of and has led the Neuropixels program at imec since its inception. As a venture capitalist and General Partner at Sevin Rosen-Alta Berkeley (1998–2010), he worked with more than 20 successful founding teams in semiconductors and networking systems. He spent the first decade of his career at Bellcore/Bell Labs and as an assignee at imec. He was educated at Middlebury College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Paru Deshpande, Ph.D., Vice President, R&D, Health Sector, imec

Paru Deshpande is Vice President of R&D in the Health Sector at imec, leading the department of Life Science Technologies. He completed his Ph.D. at Princeton University in polymer self-assembly for lithography. He joined BioNano Genomics as the first employee, leading projects in single molecule DNA detection and assay development. In 2011, he became Director of Instrument Development and managed early product testing. He joined imec in June 2012.

Peter Peumans, Ph.D., CTO, Health Technologies, imec

Dr. Peumans currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer of Health at imec, where he plays a pivotal role in driving advancements in life sciences through nanotechnology. He was previously CTO at miDiagnostics, a spin-off from imec and Johns Hopkins University, and served as a Professor at Stanford University, focusing on large-area electronics and biomedical applications. He earned the National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2005 and holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University.

Vojkan Mihajlovic, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, imec

Vojkan Mihajlovic is a Principal Scientist at imec. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Twente in 2002. He has more than 15 years of experience in neuromodulation technologies and applications. From 2008 to 2012, he was at Philips Research, focusing on algorithms for improving signal integrity in EEG recordings. He led the Wearable Brain Monitoring work package at imec the Netherlands (2016–2021), and later created a roadmap for selective peripheral nerve stimulation, establishing a research team to develop required technology. He currently serves as technical lead for neuro applications and coordinates health innovation activities at imec The Netherlands. He has authored more than 80 peer-reviewed publications and holds 15 patents.

Rotem Kopel, Ph.D., CEO, Ability Neurotech

Dr. Rotem Kopel has a distinguished record and extensive leadership roles in the neurotechnology sector, with a proven track record of transforming innovative technologies into practical healthcare solutions. As the CEO of ABILITY Neurotech she is pioneering a brain-computer interface company developing innovative neural technologies that bridge human brain with the body and digital systems. Prior to co-founding ABILITY Neurotech, she served as CTO & CSO at Luciole Medical AG and was a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Future Council on Mental Health and Technology. Dr. Kopel's unique combination of technical acumen and strategic vision positions her at the forefront of the rapidly evolving neurotechnology landscape, where she is dedicated to creating BCI solutions that transform healthcare, accessibility, and human-computer interaction. With a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering & Neuroscience from EPFL, where she developed groundbreaking algorithms for real-time-fMRI neurofeedback, Dr. Kopel brings specialized expertise in neural signal processing, machine learning, and electronic design to her leadership role. 

Tracy Laabs, Ph.D., Head of Innovation and Strategic Partnnerships, Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering

Dr. Tracy Laabs is the Head of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships at the Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering, a leading Swiss non-profit focused on accelerating the translation of neuroscience and neurotechnology innovations into impactful clinical solutions. With over 18 years of experience at the intersection of science, technology, and business, Dr. Laabs leads initiatives to identify high-potential research opportunities and forge strategic alliances that drive growth and investment in the Centers science and technology. Her role includes shaping the Wyss Center’s innovation pipeline and building robust ecosystems with industry partners, investors, and academic collaborators to bring breakthrough technologies to market.
She previously served as Chief Development Officer and Founding Deputy Director of the Wyss Center, playing a pivotal role in establishing the organization as a global leader in neurotechnology translation. During her ten year tenure, the Center scaled its portfolio, launched successful spin-offs, and expanded its international footprint. She currently serves on multiple advisory boards and holds board roles for several Wyss Center spin-out companies, contributing to strategic direction, fundraising, and operational growth. Earlier in her career, Dr. Laabs was a Senior Scientist at Strategic Analysis, Inc., supporting advanced R&D programs for the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in areas spanning neuroscience, biotechnology, and human performance. Dr. Laabs brings deep expertise in multidisciplinary program development, high-risk/high-reward innovation strategies, and team leadership across academia, government, and the private sector. She is also a passionate advocate for science communication, entrepreneurship, and the mentorship of emerging leaders in the neurotechnology space. She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Neuroscience from the University of Cambridge and a B.S. in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison

Ana Maiques, Co-founder and CEO, Neuroelectrics

Ana Maiques is a prominent business and innovation figure, whose impact and influence in the fields of entrepreneurship and neuroscience are undeniable. As a co-founder of Neuroelectrics, a company with a bold vision to transform our interaction with the brain through the development of pioneering technologies to monitor and stimulate this vital organ, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership and inspiration. Under her leadership at Neuroelectrics, the company has achieved remarkable accomplishments, including recognition as one of the Best Entrepreneurial Companies in 2016 in the U.S., awarded by Entrepreneur magazine. Her impressive career has been acknowledged on multiple occasions, including the prestigious Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs award by Goldman Sachs at the 2022 Builders and Innovators Summit, as well as the distinguished European Union Prize for Women Innovators from the European Commission in 2014, and the title of Most Inspiring Women on the Inspiring Fifty list in Europe for two consecutive years in 2015 and 2016. Recently, she received the prestigious VDS Award at the Valencia Digital Summit 2024 for her contributions to science and her leadership in neurotechnology. In addition to her significant role at Neuroelectrics, Ana Maiques is an active figure in the innovation scene, both in Europe and the U.S. She is a permanent member of the European Innovation Council Advisory Board and became a Termeer Fellow at the Henri Termeer Foundation in 2018, reflecting her commitment to scientific and technological advancement. Equally important is her role as a co-founder of EsTech, a platform for Spanish scale-ups and unicorns dedicated to fostering the growth of innovative companies. Her vision and leadership are fundamental to the realization of this ambitious mission. Maiques is a passionate advocate for gender equality in STEM fields. Her commitment extends beyond business and into creating opportunities for more women to participate in these fields. Through her dedication to Neuroelectrics, she has demonstrated that business success and the promotion of scientific advancements can go hand in hand. Ana is dedicated to business ethics and remains determined to break down barriers and promote a brighter future in science and technology.

Julien Camisani, Vice President of Engineering, ONWARD Medical

George Chatzipirpiridis, Ph.D., COO, Magnes AG

Dr. George Chatzipirpiridis is a biomedical engineer and entrepreneur, serving as the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Magnes AG, a Swiss startup specializing in wearable sensor technology for health applications. Following his master's studies in Robotics and Mechatronics, Dr. Chatzipirpiridis continued at ETH Zurich's Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, completing his Ph.D. in Microrobotics in 2018. His doctoral research centred on magnetic technologies for small-scale robotics, contributing significantly to the development of micro- and nanorobotic systems. In 2017, leveraging his expertise in microrobotics, Dr. Chatzipirpiridis co-founded Magnes AG, a technology spin-off from ETH Zurich. The company has developed innovative solutions in health technology, including wearable sensors that analyze human movements using AI algorithms to provide biofeedback. These technologies are applied in areas such as the management of neurological disorders, fall prevention, and the development of digital biomarkers for new drugs. Dr. Chatzipirpiridis's academic contributions include research on electroforming implantable tubular magnetic microrobots for wireless ophthalmologic applications and chitosan electrodeposition for microrobotic drug delivery. His work has been widely cited, reflecting his influence in the field of microrobotics. In February 2023, Magnes AG was selected to join the Swiss National Startup Team 2023, representing Swiss innovation in Silicon Valley as part of the Venture Leaders Technology program. 

Charles Nolet, CEO, Synergia Medical

Charles Nolet is CEO of Synergia Medical. He has more than a decade of strategic, operational, and financial expertise acquired across global corporations and MedTech startups. Prior to becoming CEO, he was Chief Strategy Officer. He was previously Investment Manager at Lumine Capital Advisors and an Engagement Manager at Mckinsey & Co. He  holds a Master’s in Civil Engineering from the Catholic University of Louvain (Magna Cum Laude) and an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), specializing in MedTech, private equity, and advanced analytics.

Karl Stoklosa, CEO, Precisis GmbH

Karl Stoklosa is Managing Director and CEO of Precisis GmbH. He was previously Director of Global Marketing for Abbott's Cardiac Rhythm Management Division (CRM) and before that in regional marketing at St. Jude Medical and Abbott,for both CRM and neuromodulation. He holds a B.A. from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Luca Ravagnon, Ph.D., CEO, WISE SpA

Dr. Ravagnon co-founded and has been CEO of WISE since 2011. He has long-term experience in basic and applied research in the field of nanotechnology and developed and patented WISE’s proprietary supersonic technology. Since 2019, he has been a member of the management board of the Lombardy’s Life Sciences Cluster and in 2020 he became an Endeavor Entrepreneur. He holds a Ph.D. in Physics and an Executive MBA from SDA Bocconi.

Frederik Ceyssens, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CEO, ReVision Implant