Synchron Expands Advisory Board as Brain-Computer Interface Device Stentrode Advances into Patients in US Clinical Trials
Synchron, a brain computer interface (BCI) company, today announced the expansion of its advisory board comprised of industry pioneers, to provide strategic guidance in support of the Company’s clinical development plans, corporate strategy and growth.
The members of the advisory board are visionaries across the technology, neuroscience and medical device industry, which include Edward Chang, MD, Chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery at UCSF, Max Hodak, former Neuralink Co-founder and President, Jordi Parramon, PhD, President of Medical Devices at Google Verily Life Sciences, and Earl Slee, former Medtronic senior executive. The recent appointees will join Synchron’s current advisory board, which includes Tim Denison, PhD, Josh Duyan, Victor Rodrigues and Marc Slutzky, MD, PhD.
“Our brain computer interface is pioneering a new frontier in the treatment of neurological disease. We’ve strengthened our advisory board as we advance our flagship device, the Stentrode, into patients in the US this year,” said Thomas Oxley, MD, PhD, CEO of Synchron. “I’m both honored and thrilled to work with Edward, Max, Jordi and Earl, who will play an invaluable role in guiding our strategic decisions as we advance our endovascular brain computer interface to treat individuals with a significant unmet medical need, beginning with patients with severe paralysis.”
Synchron has developed an endovascular brain computer interface that is designed to access every corner of the brain using its natural highways, the blood vessels. It takes around two hours to implant a Stentrode device with a minimally invasive procedure. This breakthrough platform launches a new frontier for the treatment of neurological diseases: Neurointerventional Electrophysiology (Neuro EP). The technology will transform three medical verticals: prosthetics, therapy, and diagnostics.
“I believe that using the blood vessels will be the solution for the wide adoption of BCI,” said Jordi Parramon, PhD. “After decades of promise, BCI is ready to help patients in need. Synchron’s approach now seems obvious,” added Edward Chang, MD.
Synchron is the only company to receive FDA approval to conduct clinical trials of a permanently implanted BCI. The company’s novel BCI technology leverages the blood vessels as the natural highways to the brain.
About the Stentrode
Synchron’s flagship technology, the Stentrode, is an endovascular brain implant designed to enable patients to wirelessly control digital devices through thought and improve functional independence. Synchron’s foundational technology, a motor neuroprosthesis (MNP), is implanted via the jugular vein using common neurointerventional techniques, and does not require drilling into the skull or open brain surgery. The system is designed for patients suffering from paralysis as a result of a broad range of conditions, and aims to be user friendly and dependable for patients to use autonomously.
About Synchron, Inc.
Synchron, a brain interface platform company, is a leader in the field of implantable neural interface technology. The company is in the clinical stage with a commercial neuroprosthesis for the treatment of paralysis and is developing the first endovascular implantable neuromodulation therapy. Future applications may include the potential to diagnose and treat conditions of the nervous system, including Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, depression, and hypertension, as well as non-medical solutions. Headquartered in New York City, Synchron has offices in Silicon Valley, California and R&D facilities in Melbourne, Australia.