A Virtual World's Fair for BCI

Dr. Andres Lozano is a globally renowned neurosurgeon and scientist specializing in deep brain stimulation (DBS) and functional neurosurgery. He is currently a University Professor and Chair of Neurosurgery at the University of Toronto, holding the prestigious Dan Family Chair in Neurosurgery and the R.R. Tasker Chair in Functional Neurosurgery at Toronto Western Hospital. His leading research in Deep Brain Stimulation and Focused Ultrasound Surgery has resulted in over 830 publications, ranking him among the most highly cited neurosurgeons globally according to Clarivate. He also serves as a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Neuroscience and Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board at the Weston Brain Institute. He is leading the exclusive Canadian site for the Neuralink trial.

Dr. Zhengtuo Zhao has a Ph.D. in Biomedical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. At the Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dr. Zhao is developing a stable, chronic and high bandwidth neural interface using micro/nano fabrication technology to break through the restrains and enhance the clinical application of brain probes to restore movement in spinal cord injured, paralyzed patients and achieve high-resolution perception reconstruction for impaired patients.

Kallum Titchmarsh is the Vice President of US Medical Technology Equity Research at Morgan Stanley, covering the US MedTech sector. He holds a BSc in Neuroscience from the University of Sussex, where he conducted research on non-neural micro-RNA in Drosophila melanogaster. Previously, he worked at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in London, contributing to the #1 Institutional Investor-ranked European MedTech team. Kallum has been featured on Morgan Stanley’s “Thoughts on the Market” podcast and holds multiple industry certifications, including CFA Level 1 and FINRA Series 63, 86, and 87. He has provided in-depth equity research on leading medical technology companies, shaping investment strategies in the sector.

Sam Hosovsky is the Founder and CEO of uCat, a London-based startup pioneering the intersection of Virtual Reality (VR), implanted brain-computer interfaces (BCI), and AI to create an accessible metaverse for individuals with paralysis. With a Master of Science in Computing and Information Systems from the University of Greenwich and a thesis focused on the commercialization of neurotechnology, Hosovsky is driven to bridge the gap between cutting-edge BCI breakthroughs and practical, everyday applications for users. Under his leadership, uCat aims to empower BCI users by providing a virtual space where they can achieve independence, full self-expression, and seamless participation alongside others.

David Weild IV is an American investment banker, entrepreneur, and former Vice Chairman of NASDAQ, widely known as the "father" of the JOBS Act. He is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Weild & Co., an investment bank focused on growth companies. Weild is a leading voice on financial reform, cybersecurity, and U.S. economic policy, and serves on advisory boards like the Intelligent Automation Forum. His work helped modernize securities regulations and improve access to capital for emerging businesses. He holds an MBA from NYU Stern and is Chairman Emeritus of Tuesday’s Children.

Dr. Jordi Parramon is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience in medical devices and health technology, spanning academia, startups, and large corporations. As CEO and General Partner of Nexus NeuroTech, he leads investments in companies dedicated to solving brain disorders. Previously, he served as President of Medical Devices at Verily (Alphabet/Google), overseeing AI-driven health solutions and strategic partnerships. He has played key roles in neuromodulation, bioelectronics, digital surgery, and consumer health technologies, holding leadership positions at Boston Scientific and Advanced Bionics. Dr. Parramon holds over 60 patent families and serves on multiple boards, shaping the future of neurotechnology and digital health.

Dr. Nicolas Vachicouras obtained his PhD in Microelectronics and Nanosystems from the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne in Switzerland, where he studied the development of stretchable electronics for neural interfaces with the brain and spinal cord. Nicolas co-founded Neurosoft Biotechnologies in 2019 as a spin-off from the Laboratory of Soft Bioelectronic Interfaces and continues to serve as its CEO. Neurosoft targets severe tinnitus using their soft implantable BCI, emphasizing long-term bio-integration in the body by conforming to the static and dynamic mechanics of neural tissue.

Kumaar Bagrodia is frequently referred to as India's 'Brain Enhancer,' as he leads the policy efforts on aging and neurodegenerative diseases within the B20 G20 task force focused on technology, innovation, and R&D. Kumaar Bagrodia is the founder of NeuroLeap, India's leading applied neuroscience company that leverages advanced brain-computer interface technology. NeuroLeap has partnered with institutions like the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Palakkad to advance research in Brain-Computer Interface technology. Kumaar holds an MBA degree from the University of Oxford, and has a Masters in Applied Neuroscience.

Jayme Strauss serves as the Chief Commercial and Clinical Officer of Precision Neuroscience. Jayme has over 10 years of experience leading various neuroscience, oncology, and blood in marrow transplant programs. She previously served as the Chief Clinical Officer at http://Viz.ai , a healthcare company that pioneered AI and cloud-based technologies to transform healthcare. Jayme Strauss has a multidisciplinary background working with teams of engineers, clinicians, and businesses to implement innovative solutions that enable faster and smarter diagnosis, treatment, and recovery for patients with neurological conditions. Strauss holds an MSN and MBA from Grand Canyon University and received her BSN at Cedar Crest College. Jayme was trained as an ICU nurse, spending over 10 years as a hospital executive, building neuroscience and oncology programs at Baptist Health South Florida in Miami and Piedmont Healthcare in Georgia.

Dr. Rob Franklin obtained his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where he developed electrodes for in vivo neurotransmitter sensing. Rob started at Blackrock Neurotech after his PhD in 2009 in Engineering and Business Development, leading a team of engineers to design and develop implantable, wireless neural interface electronics and novel silicon electrodes for recording and stimulation in the brain. Over time, he has progressed to Director of Product Development and, as of 2024, is the SVP of BCI. He has been at the forefront of their clinical translation for their MoveAgain BCI system.

Dr. Rapoport holds a Ph.D in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT, and an M.D. from Harvard University. He is a Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer of Precision Neuroscience. He is an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He specializes in minimally invasive, technologically enabled surgery of the skull base and ventricular system. Dr. Rapoport serves as the Scientific Director of Mount Sinai BioDesign, a medical device incubator at Mount Sinai, which operates as a center of expertise in engineering, prototyping, and project management for medical technology. He was a founding member of Neuralink and a Co-Founder of Simbionics. He has authored 40 patents related to brain-computer interfaces and other innovations in medical technology.

Marcus Gerhardt is CEO of Blackrock Neurotech, a pioneer in the BCI space. Marcus has a Master’s of Philosophy from Oxford University and a Master’s of Arts from St. Andrews. In 1999, Marcus co-founded his first startup, Mondus, an innovative e-commerce platform. He then established BBI, a company that provided advisory services to technology firms on funding, commercialization, and growth strategies. In 2003, he co-founded a prominent frontier market asset management firm in the Middle East. He is an entrepreneur experienced in innovative technologies and alternative investment markets. Marcus spent years sharpening his entrepreneurial skills as he participated in 14 venture projects prior to his engagement with Blackrock Neurotech. He combined his business expertise with the engineering expertise of his childhood friend Dr. Florian Solzbacher to start then-called Blackrock Microsystems in 2008, who shared with him his vision of harnessing brain implants to restore function to those with neurological disorders.

Carolina Aguilar has spent her entire career rolling out new medical technology across the world. She holds a Master's in Neuroscience from Virginia Tech and an Executive MBA from IE Business School. Carolina worked on market development and commercialization of Medtronic’s Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) program across Europe and Asia. She then became the global business director for Medtronic’s DBS and Diabetes programs. After leaving Medtronic, she went on to found INBRAIN Neuroelectronics, a company developing graphene semiconductors to power the future of implantable BCIs. INBRAIN's technology gives BCI therapeutics the ability to decode and modulate different brain & nerve targets at high resolution and micrometric precision. As CEO, Carolina has led INBRAIN to receive FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for their neural interface. Along with INBRAIN, she also has founded INNERVIA Bioelectronics, a wholly owned subsidiary that creates graphene implants for the peripheral nervous system.

Dr. Erika Ross Ellison started her career as a distinguished student athlete at University of Denver where she was an NCAA All-American Academic Swimmer and completed her Undergraduate Degree in Biology and Business. She continued her academics at Denver completing a Master’s in Molecular Sciences before she attended the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and obtained a PhD in Neuroscience. Dr. Ross Ellison is President-Elect of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for the Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS). Dr. Erika Ross Ellison is the Vice President of Global Clinical, Regulatory, and Quality at ONWARD Medical, a company focused on developing therapies to restore movement for individuals with spinal cord injuries. Before this, she was the Director of Clinical and Applied Research at Abbott Neuromodulation, where she led the global research team, managed strategy, and conducted research on spinal cord and deep brain stimulation systems.