2026 Neurotech Leaders Forum at imec

Thomas Stieglitz, Ph.D., Professor of Biomedical Microtechnology, Freiburg University

Thomas Stieglitz received a diploma degree in electrical Engineering from Technische Hochschule Karlsruhe, Germany, in 1993, and a Ph.D. and habilitation degree in 1998 and 2002 from the University of Saarland, Germany, respectively. In 1993, he joined the Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering in St. Ingbert, Germany, where he established the Neural Prosthetics Group. Since 2004, he is a full professor for Biomedical Microtechnology at the Albert-Ludwig-University Freiburg, Germany, currently serving as deputy spokesperson of the Cluster BrainLinks-BrainTools, board member of the Intelligent Machine Brain Interfacing Technology (IMBIT) Center and spokesperson of the research profile “signals of life” of the university. His research interests include neural interfaces and implants, biocompatible assembling and packaging and brain machine interfaces. Dr. Stieglitz has co-authored about 220 peer reviewed journal publications, 350 conference proceedings and holds 35 patents. He is co-founder and scientific consultant of CorTec GmbH and neuroloop GmbH, two spin-off companies which focus on neural implant technology and neuromodulation, respectively. Dr. Stieglitz is member of the Materials Research Society, the Society for Neuroscience, Fellow of the IEEE and serves the EMBS in the technical committee of neural engineering. He is with the German Biomedical Engineering Society where he is chair of the Neural Prostheses and Intelligent Implants section as well as delegate in the standardization committee DKE. He is also founding member of the International Functional Electrical Stimulation Society.

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.

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.

Esther Novosel, Ph.D., CEO, neuroloop GmbH

Esther is a healthcare people leader with a proven track record in several strategic and commercial roles across the medtech industry. Focused on delivering above-market performance and driving organization’s strategy and marketing. She was formerly vice president of projects, portfolio, and strategy at Biotronik. Esther received a Ph.D. in bioengineering and biomedical engineering from the University of Stuttgart.

Daniel Chew, Ph.D., Co-Founder, Artemis Medical

A University of London and Cambridge trained neuroscientist, Daniel has spent the past 20 years in the neuromodulation field and authored in over 50 patents and publications. He spent 14 years in Galvani Bioelectronics/GSK, leading the Translational Science division; a diverse team of engineers, biologists, and clinicians, in the development of Class III active implantable medical devices in immune-inflammatory and metabolic disorders.  He currently supports MedTech and Life Science businesses through his consultancy company, Haven Consulting Limited. Recently, he has Co-founded Artemis Medical, a company focused on developing a treatment for women suffering polyendocrine metabolic disorder and associated symptoms including infertility.

Richard Van Wezel, Ph.D., Coordinator, Neurotech EU

Richard van Wezel is professor in Neuroscience at the Donders Institute of Brain, Cognition and Behaviour at the Radboud University The Netherlands and director Health of OnePlanet Research Center, a collaboration between imec, Radboud University/Radboudumc and Wageningen. Prof. van Wezel is chair of NeurotechNL, the consortium of all Neurotechnology related research groups in The Netherlands and coordinator of the European Alliance NeurotechEU, a collaboration between 9 European universities. His research focuses on neurotechonological solutions for Parkinson patients and people that are visually impaired.

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.

Jacek Eisler, Neuro Market Segment Manager, TUV SUD

At TÜV SÜD, Jacek leads business development in neurotechnology, supporting innovation through testing and certification services. He has extensive experience in compliance assessment and auditing of high-risk medical devices, with a focus on applicable standards and regulatory requirements. Jacek is actively involved in international standardization efforts for BCI and implantable neuromodulation devices. His earlier industry experience gives him a strong practical foundation in medical device development, validation, and regulatory submissions.

Lindsey Jardine, Vice President, Clinical, Regulatory and Quality Affairs, Adraxe Corp.

Lindsey Jardine is Vice President of Clinical, Regulatory, and Quality Affairs at Adraxe Corp., a neuromodulation company developing a minimally invasive closed-loop system for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy. She brings more than a decade of experience guiding breakthrough Class III medical devices through complex clinical and regulatory pathways, from early feasibility through pivotal trials and global approvals. Lindsey has successfully led multiple FDA Breakthrough Designation submissions, IDE programs, and CE Marking strategies across epilepsy, cardiology, and neurostimulation technologies, contributing to more than $15 billion in aggregate company exits and IPO valuations. She is known for building high-impact clinical programs that align scientific rigor with regulatory readiness, enabling startups to accelerate development without sacrificing quality or patient safety. Beyond her work at Adraxe, Lindsey advises early-stage neurotechnology ventures, teaches clinical and regulatory strategy at biodesign workshops including Cleveland NeuroDesign, and is an active contributor to the next generation of neurotech innovation.

Martin Becker, HealthTech Regulatory Lead, CPI

Martin is passionate about medical devices and the difference they make to patients’ lives. Over 30 years, he has built a career across start-ups, global medtech leaders including Cardinal Health, CareFusion, Becton Dickinson, Pall Corporation (Danaher), ICU Medical and Linde (Praxair), and leading MedTech consultancies supporting both MedTech and pharmaceutical companies. He has led R&D, product development, programme management, and regulatory initiatives across diverse technologies, including drug delivery, critical care, wound care, and in vitro diagnostics. During the COVID-19 crisis, he played a key technical leadership role in the UK Government Ventilator Challenge, supporting the rapid development of an emergency ventilator. His experience also spans global operations, strategy, quality, leadership, and board-level responsibilities. Martin is now Head of Regulatory for CPI’s HealthTech business, where he provides regulatory and economic evaluation leadership, supports innovation programmes, and helps start-ups navigate complex global pathways. He also contributes to industry-wide challenges, often through collaborative public-private partnerships, and, on occasion, he gets invited to influence public policy development in medical devices. At heart, Martin remains focused on one outcome: getting important technologies to patients by building the knowledge, devices, teams, businesses, and ecosystems needed to make that happen.

Hubert Martens, Ph.D., CEO, Salvia BioElectronics BV

Hubert Martens is a visionary MedTech entrepreneur with a track record of building breakthrough medical device companies that redefine patient care. He has played a leading role in shaping the field of neuromodulation, combining deep technical expertise with a relentless focus on clinical impact. As founder and the driving force behind com-panies like Sapiens Steering Brain Stimulation (acquired by Medtronic), Sirius Medical, and Salvia BioElectronics, Hubert has built and led teams advancing transformative technologies from concept toward clinical and commercial reality. He draws on a strong foundation in science and engineering, holding a PhD in Physics from Leiden University.

Luke Bashford, Ph.D., Scientific Director, UK National Centre for Neurotechnology and Neurorestoration.

Luke Bashford, PhD, is the Scientific Director of the UK's National Centre for Neurotechnology and Neurorestoration, based at Newcastle Hospitals, Lecturer in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University and Assistant Adjunct Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado, USA. Lukes research lab conducts implanted Brain-Computer Interface clinical studies to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying human sensorimotor and cognitive function for basic science and clinical translation. Additionally, Luke conducts regulatory science and policy projects, particularly concerning the translation of neurotechnologies, to accelerate clinical studies for all stakeholders. Luke supports and advises third sector organisations, industry, and governments.

Fabien Sauter, Ph.D., Project Manager, CEA Clinatec

Fabien Sauter earned an engineering degree from the Arts et Métiers and a Ph.D. in Mechanics and Materials Science. He began his career as a senior scientist at Corning FRC, specializing in MEMS and BioMEMS design and packaging. In 2002, he joined CEA, where he led multiple medical device development projects leveraging silicon manufacturing technologies, including nanostructured neural electrodes. Since 2008, he has worked at Clinatec alongside Alim-Louis Benabid, leading the development of active implantable medical devices focused on biocompatible packaging and microtechnologies. His work has included the development of CEA’s WIMAGINE wireless ECoG platform and DARPA-funded optogenetics-based therapies. These technologies have been developed in compliance with ISO 14708-1 and ISO 13485 standards.

Dan Ganansia, Ph.D., Head of Clinical, INBRAIN Neuroelectronics

Dan is a clinical research and innovation leader with 15 years of experience advancing evidence-based adoption of implantable neurotechnologies. During his tenure at Oticon Medical, he led international clinical collaborations and contributed to building the clinical evidence required for regulatory approval and market access in cochlear implantation worlwide. Since 2022, he has headed clinical development at INBRAIN, guiding the translational strategy for breakthrough graphene-based brain neuromodulation technologies. His work focuses on bridging early-stage innovation, regulatory science, and real-world clinical implementation to accelerate responsible access to next-generation neurotechnologies.

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.

Francois Veron, General Partner, Newfund

Newfund is a cross-border venture capital firm created by and for entrepreneurs, with more than $400 million under management and a portfolio of over 130 active companies, including 49 operating in North America. François Véron leads the firm’s efforts in emerging technology investments, including through HEKA BrainTech Fund, a thematic investment fund dedicated to brain health and neurotechnology. HEKA is focused on financing approximately 25 technology startups developing solutions to enhance brain health and human capabilities. The fund participates in seed and Series A rounds with initial investments ranging from €500,000 to €2 million, supporting international expansion and providing ongoing strategic support through follow-on investments.

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.

Bert Monna, Ph.D., CTO, Phosphoenix B.V.

Bert is a serial entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in growing start-ups, from inception to acquisition (with >20 employees) in high-tech and deep-tech industries, complemented by a background in electronics and technical systems engineering. He was previously co-founder and director of SystematIC, and co-founder and CEO of Hyperion Technologies.

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 Ravagnan, Ph.D., CEO, WISE SpA

Dr. Ravagnan 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