Maximizing Progress: MIT Neurotechnology Ventures 2008 ~ Top Plans!

Maximizing Progress: MIT Neurotechnology Ventures 2008 ~ Top Plans!

Neurotech is a theme which embraces a broad array of issues and opportunities including: Neuroimaging, Neurology/Psychiatry Diagnosis, Rehabilitation, Neurosurgery, Neuropharmacology, Brain Stimulation, Prosthetics, Sensory and Motor Augmentation, Gaming, Learning, Neuroveterinary Solutions, Regenerative Neuromedicine, and more. I'm quite delighted by and proud of the teams which pulled together some bold and even excellent new venture proposals, including...

* Aivot ~ ePatch Cognitive Behavior Therapy to Quit Smoking
* NeuroExtend ~ Veterinary Longevity Neural Implant
* MindLight ~ Children's Autism Detection System
* Vibraint ~ Learning Assessment Systems
* BrainState ~ Image-Guided Stroke Rehabilitation
* Data Driven Diagnostics (D3) ~ MRI Tests for Depression
* StrokeDx ~ Stroke Diagnostic Imaging Systems
* iSight ~ Vision Recuperation Solutions
* Sight Beyond Sight ~ Retinal Implant Vision Systems
* PsychCSR ~ Voice-Pattern Call Center QC Systems

McGovern Institute funds collaborative neurotechnology projects - MIT News Office

McGovern Institute funds collaborative neurotechnology projects - MIT News Office

The McGovern Institute for Brain Research has announced six new funding awards to develop technologies aimed at accelerating neuroscience research and developing new therapeutic approaches for brain disorders. The new projects are on themes ranging from brain-machine interfaces to new genetic tools and brain imaging methods.

The awards are part of the McGovern Institute Neurotechnology (MINT) program, established in 2006 to promote collaborations between neuroscientists and researchers from other disciplines within and beyond MIT. "Neuroscience has always been driven by new technologies," explained Charles Jennings, the MINT program director. "We want to take advantage of the extraordinary range of technological expertise at MIT to develop new methods that could transform the field."

The MINT awards typically provide up to $100,000 for one year of seed funding to test innovative ideas that traditional funding sources rarely support, and to determine if they are worth pursuing further.

November 12, 2008 event

November 12, 2008 Innovation Series

Neuroscience Drug Discovery and Development:

The Route to Disease-Modifying Therapies

Program Description:

Disorders of the brain, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease and psychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia and depression, pose some of the hardest challenges for the biopharmaceutical industry. The disease burden from brain disorders is enormous, and the commercial potential is correspondingly attractive to industry and its investors. However, complex pathophysiology, poor preclinical models, a lack of reliable biomarkers and expensive clinical trials all impede development of new therapies. Join us for a discussion of how the biopharmaceutical industry is addressing these challenges, with guest speakers from the cutting edge of neuroscience drug discovery.

Neurotechnology @ MIT & Beyond - An Enormous Emerging Research & Venture Domain

Neurotechnology @ MIT and Beyond ~ An Enormous Emerging Research and Venture Domain:

Joost Bonsen and I are co-organizing another Neurotech@MIT gathering this Tuesday night July 15th 2008, from 7-9pm. This informal evening of drinks, brainstorming, and conversation with fellow inventive and entrepreneurial friends will be at the Royal East over dinner. The Royal East Restaurant is at 792 Main St. Cambridge, MA. We each chip in to split the cost.

This Fall 2008, together with Ed Boyden and Rutledge Ellis-Behnke, Joost is co-teaching Neurotechnology Ventures, an Institute-wide elective projects-course at MIT on the challenges of envisioning, planning, and building startups to bring neuroengineering innovations to the world..."

Upcoming Event - June 4th

From Paul Pyzowski:

The Massachusetts Medical Device Group is having a forum on the future of neuroscience and neurotech next Wednesday (June 4) in Waltham. I am moderating a panel that includes Charles Jennings from the McGovern as well as a practicing neurosurgeon and a neurotech entrepreneur.

Event link is here:
http://web.memberclicks.com/mc/community/eventdetails.do?eventId=131733&orgId=meg

MDG link is here:
http://www.meddevgroup.org/

Neurotech Industry Conference

Hi all, I really, really recommend that you attend this conference. It's a great opportunity.

I have a code for a special $100 discount for MIT Neurotech Club members if you send me an email (eesley at mit).


Register Today View Agenda More Information
Join hundreds of executives, investors, and other leaders from across the neurotech industry at the only partnering and investing conference including drugs, devices and diagnostics for the brain and nervous system.

The Neurotech Industry Investing and Partnering Conference will take place on May 8-9 at the Westin Copley Place in Boston.

Hear about next generation treatments for Alzheimer's, addiction, anxiety, depression, pain, sensory disorders, obesity, stroke, schizophrenia, sleep disorders, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, Parkinson's and other brain-related illnesses.

Hear from over 50 neurotech executives and investors in these sessions
- Investing in Neurotech
- Addiction, Impluse Control and Obesity
- Drug Delivery and the Blood Brain Barrier
- Alzheimer's and Cognitive Disorders
- Paving the Way in New Markets
- Insomnia and Sleep Disorders
- Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injury
- Partnering and Licensing in Neurotech
- Next Generation Neuropsychiatry
- Effective Global Clinical Trial Design
- Pain: Acute, Chronic and Neuropathic
- Neurotech Public Policy 2008

Presenting companies include

Robert Alonso, President and CEO, Yaupon Therapeutics
Gary Ascani, President and CEO, Banyan Biomarkers
Kees Been, President and CEO, EnVivo Therapeutics
Kerrie Brady, President and CEO, Traxion Therapeutics
Kenneth Chahine, President and CEO, Avigen
Chris Chavez, President and CEO, Advanced Neuromodulation Systems*
Donald deBethizy, President and CEO, Targacept
Christopher deCharms, President and CEO, Omneuron
Christine de los Reyes, Managing Director, Biotech Partnering Solutions
Philip Devlin, EVP and General Manager, Aspect Neuroscience
Frank Eeckman, Director, NeuroInsights, Centient Biotech Investor
Pieter Gaillard, President and CEO, toBBB
Paul Gilbert, CEO, Medavante
David Hale, Executive Chairman, Somaxon
Michael Kauffman, President and CEO, Epix Pharmaceuticals
Jonathan Kil, President and CEO, Sound Pharmaceuticals
Mark Knudson, President and CEO, Enteromedics
Elliot Krames, President, International Neuromodulation Society
Lothar Krinke, VP Business Development, Medtronic Neurological
Manuel Lopez-Figueroa, Investment Professional, Bay City Capital
Andres Lozano, President and CEO, Functional Neuroscience, Inc.
Casey Crawford Lynch, Managing Director, NeuroInsights
Zack Lynch, Executive Director, Neurotechnology Industry Organization
Sharon Mates, Chairman and CEO, Intra-Cellular Therapies
Cris McReynolds, President & CEO, Satoris
Erich Mohr, President & CEO, Med-Genesis
Dan Moore, President and CEO, Cyberonics
Karoly Nikolich, President and CEO, Amnestix
Dan O'Connell, Managing Director, NeuroVentures Capital
Suzan Onel, Partner, K&L Gates, NIO FDA Policy Counsel
Vincent Owens, President and CEO, Intelect Medical
Art Pappas, Managing Partner, Pappas Ventures
Mark Pykett, President and COO, Alseres Pharmaceuticals
Roger Quy, General Partner, Technology Partners
Srinivas Rao, Chief Scientific Officer, Cypress Bioscience
Wendye Robbins, President and CEO, Limerick Neuroscience
Daniel Ritter, Partner, K&L Gates, NIO Public Policy Counsel
Luca Santarelli, Global Head, Clinical Research, CNS, Hoffmann-La Roche
Jim Schoeneck, President and CEO, BrainCells, Inc.
David Schultz, Senior Director, Worldwide Business Development, Pfizer
Rajeev Shah, Senior Analyst, RA Capital
Uzi Sofer, CEO, Brainsway
Tim Surgenor, President and CEO, Cyberkinetics Neurotechnology Systems
Tim Tasker, Executive Vice President Clinical Development, Evotec
Gary Tollefson, President and CEO, Orexigen
Lars Wahlberg, Executive Vice President and COO, NsGene
*indicates invited and in process of confirming


This market defining conference features keynotes on the state of the industry, cutting edge company presentations, and panel discussions on a comprehensive selection of commercial neuroscience topics.

Click here to register today at early rates

Gold Sponsors
sponsors
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Conference Organized by: NeuroInsights

NeuroTech Conference

http://www.neuroinsights.com/events/neurotech2008.html

MIT Grad Kurzweil on Neurotech Future

BBC NEWS | Americas | Machines to match man by 2029'

Humans and machines would eventually merge, by means of devices embedded in people's bodies to keep them healthy and improve their intelligence, predicted Mr Kurzweil.

"We'll have intelligent nanobots go into our brains through the capillaries and interact directly with our biological neurons," he told BBC News.

CHALLENGES FACING HUMANITY
Make solar energy affordable
Provide energy from fusion
Develop carbon sequestration
Manage the nitrogen cycle
Provide access to clean water
Reverse engineer the brain
Prevent nuclear terror
Secure cyberspace
Enhance virtual reality
Improve urban infrastructure
Advance health informatics
Engineer better medicines
Advance personalised learning
Explore natural frontiers

The nanobots, he said, would "make us smarter, remember things better and automatically go into full emergent virtual reality environments through the nervous system".

Mr Kurzweil is one of 18 influential thinkers chosen to identify the great technological challenges facing humanity in the 21st century by the US National Academy of Engineering.

The experts include Google founder Larry Page and genome pioneer Dr Craig Venter.

The 14 challenges were announced at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Boston, which concludes on Monday.

Minds @ the Muddy

Hi all,

Joost Bonsen, Christian Wentz, Jon Edward and I are hosting an informal gathering of those interested in all things neurotech Tues. Feb. 19th from 8pm-onward. Details below.

I hope you'll drop by!

If you would like to help organize this, please email me at eesley@mit.edu

Chuck

"Minds at the Muddy" will kick off Feb. 19th at 8pm at the Muddy Charles Pub at MIT. We're bringing together the hottest minds and up and coming entrepreneurs in the Neurotechnology area for an exciting evening of drinks, brainstorming, and conversation.

Please join fellow inventive and entrepreneurial friends and me at the MIT
Muddy Charles pub Feb. 19th (Tues.), between 8pm and
10pm, for drinks, dinner, and interesting discussions. This informal
"Minds at the Muddy" will go till at least 9:30p, probably later.

We're personally inviting people who we know like to work on new technologies,
entrepreneurial ventures, or other efforts which maximize human progress.

Legalities -- Please don't forget your ID since unconstitutional age
discrimination remains in force.

Locale -- Free parking and the Kendall T are a short walk from the Muddy --
http://web.mit.edu/muddy/ -- which is in the corner of MIT building 50, the
big, pillared Walker Memorial near the intersection of Ames St and Memorial
Drive -- http://whereis.mit.edu/bin/map?mapterms=muddy&mapsearch=go

Cost -- Typically people chip in by purchasing
a pitcher or so and contributing it to the gathering.

PS If there's someone you think I ought to invite to this, please drop me a line! eesley@mit.edu