2025 Neurotech Leaders Forum

Embassy Suites, San Francisco Airport Oyster Point

November 5-6, 2025

Keynote Speakers
Edward Chang, M.D., Professor of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco Edward Chang is a neurosurgeon-scientist who has made fundamental discoveries on the neural coding of speech in the human brain. Chang has provided the first detailed functional blueprints of cortical areas for speech perception and production. Overcoming the limitations of previous imaging studies, Chang pioneered high-resolution direct cortical recordings in humans and applied advanced computational approaches to understand how speech is computed at the level of basic phonetic elements. His seminal contributions catalyzed an entire field of human intracranial neuroscience, accelerated novel neurotechnologies, and led to the first successful ‘speech neuroprosthesis’ to restore communication after paralysis.
J. Thomas Mortimer, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University J. Thomas (Tom) Mortimer was born in 1939 and spent his formative years in the Texas Panhandle. A highlight of his preteen years was a 1951 summer job at Palo Duro Canyon State Park, which his friend Joe Macrander had helped him secure. He graduated in 1957 from Amarillo High School’s vocational program as an automobile mechanic and worked in Buick and Chrysler-Plymouth dealerships. In 1959, he enrolled at Texas Technological College, where he was deeply influenced by Professor Russel Seacat, and earned a BSEE in 1964. In 1965, Mortimer completed his M.S. in Engineering in James B. Reswick’s lab at Case Institute of Technology. That same year, he began learning to perform animal surgeries in C. Norman Shealy’s lab at Western Reserve University. After a year of drifting without a clear Ph.D. project, Mortimer was pointedly directed by Reswick to pursue Shealy’s concept for pain suppression, inspired by the 1965 Melzack and Wall paper proposing the gate control theory of pain. By 1967, Mortimer had designed, built, and tested two dorsal column stimulator devices, which Shealy implanted in patients at Gundersen Clinic in La Crosse, WI. During his time in Reswick’s lab, Mortimer was also inspired by Lojze Vodovnik of Ljubljana, whose passion for electrically activating the nervous system made a lasting impression. From 1968 to 1969, Mortimer conducted postdoctoral research at Chalmers Tekniska Högskola in Gothenburg, Sweden, where he came to recognize the promise of a career that combined electrical engineering with animal experimentation. In 1969, Mortimer joined the faculty of the Biomedical Engineering Department at Case Western Reserve University, launching a research program aimed at restoring function to people with spinal cord injuries—like his childhood friend Joe, who had sustained such an injury in 1955. Strongly influenced by Karl Frank and Terry Hambrecht’s Neural Prostheses Program at NINDS, he founded the Applied Neural Control Laboratory at Case, where he mentored 44 MS and Ph.D. students. These students and postdocs remained a profound influence throughout his academic life. Upon retiring in 2002, Mortimer created ANCtoolkit.com, an online repository for the knowledge he had acquired over the course of his career. The repository has been as a text for advanced undergraduate and graduate level courses.

Keynote Speakers

Edward Chang, M.D., Professor of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco

Edward Chang is a neurosurgeon-scientist who has made fundamental discoveries on the neural coding of speech in the human brain. Chang has provided the first detailed functional blueprints of cortical areas for speech perception and production. Overcoming the limitations of previous imaging studies, Chang pioneered high-resolution direct cortical recordings in humans and applied advanced computational approaches to understand how speech is computed at the level of basic phonetic elements. His seminal contributions catalyzed an entire field of human intracranial neuroscience, accelerated novel neurotechnologies, and led to the first successful ‘speech neuroprosthesis’ to restore communication after paralysis.

J. Thomas Mortimer, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University

J. Thomas (Tom) Mortimer was born in 1939 and spent his formative years in the Texas Panhandle. A highlight of his preteen years was a 1951 summer job at Palo Duro Canyon State Park, which his friend Joe Macrander had helped him secure. He graduated in 1957 from Amarillo High School’s vocational program as an automobile mechanic and worked in Buick and Chrysler-Plymouth dealerships. In 1959, he enrolled at Texas Technological College, where he was deeply influenced by Professor Russel Seacat, and earned a BSEE in 1964. In 1965, Mortimer completed his M.S. in Engineering in James B. Reswick’s lab at Case Institute of Technology. That same year, he began learning to perform animal surgeries in C. Norman Shealy’s lab at Western Reserve University. After a year of drifting without a clear Ph.D. project, Mortimer was pointedly directed by Reswick to pursue Shealy’s concept for pain suppression, inspired by the 1965 Melzack and Wall paper proposing the gate control theory of pain. By 1967, Mortimer had designed, built, and tested two dorsal column stimulator devices, which Shealy implanted in patients at Gundersen Clinic in La Crosse, WI. During his time in Reswick’s lab, Mortimer was also inspired by Lojze Vodovnik of Ljubljana, whose passion for electrically activating the nervous system made a lasting impression. From 1968 to 1969, Mortimer conducted postdoctoral research at Chalmers Tekniska Högskola in Gothenburg, Sweden, where he came to recognize the promise of a career that combined electrical engineering with animal experimentation. In 1969, Mortimer joined the faculty of the Biomedical Engineering Department at Case Western Reserve University, launching a research program aimed at restoring function to people with spinal cord injuries—like his childhood friend Joe, who had sustained such an injury in 1955. Strongly influenced by Karl Frank and Terry Hambrecht’s Neural Prostheses Program at NINDS, he founded the Applied Neural Control Laboratory at Case, where he mentored 44 MS and Ph.D. students. These students and postdocs remained a profound influence throughout his academic life. Upon retiring in 2002, Mortimer created ANCtoolkit.com, an online repository for the knowledge he had acquired over the course of his career. The repository has been as a text for advanced undergraduate and graduate level courses.

Conference Moderators
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 was a strategic development consultant for the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, where 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 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.

Conference Moderators

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 was a strategic development consultant for the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, where 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 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.

Panelists and Presenters
Ryan Field, Ph.D., CEO, Kernel Ryan Field is the CEO of Kernel, a neurotechnology company dedicated to building actionable insights from high-quality brain data. He previously led the Kernel Flow team and served as CTO, overseeing the concept, design, and development of the category-defining Kernel Flow brain imaging system. Ryan is an inventor with more than 20 granted US patents and a published researcher with over a decade of experience building complex sensing systems. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University in Electrical Engineering and previously led teams at Intel and Quanergy.
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.

Panelists and Presenters

Ryan Field, Ph.D., CEO, Kernel

Ryan Field is the CEO of Kernel, a neurotechnology company dedicated to building actionable insights from high-quality brain data. He previously led the Kernel Flow team and served as CTO, overseeing the concept, design, and development of the category-defining Kernel Flow brain imaging system. Ryan is an inventor with more than 20 granted US patents and a published researcher with over a decade of experience building complex sensing systems. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University in Electrical Engineering and previously led teams at Intel and Quanergy.

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.

Entrepreneur Presenters
Andy Gotshalk, CEO Neurologic Solutions, Inc. Andy Gotshalk is the CEO of Neurologic Solutions, Inc., a startup company dedicated to pioneering advanced analytical solutions that revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of patients afflicted by epilepsy and a spectrum of neurological disorders. Andy is a medical device executive with over 20 years’ experience and most recently was the founder and CEO of Blackrock Neuromed. Blackrock Neuromed was an innovative EEG technology company that developed and commercialized high definition EEG and was acquired by Natus Medical Inc. in 2017. Prior to Blackrock Neuromed, he was the CEO of Blackrock Microsystems where he successfully commercialized research products in the neurophysiology market. Prior to that, Mr. Gotshalk was responsible for sales and operations for the US Surgical Division of Haemonetics Corporation.
Emily Mirro, President and Co-Founder, SynchNeuro Emily Mirro is the President and Co-Founder of SynchNeuro, a company developing a noninvasive, brain signal-based metabolic health wearable for consumers. She has more than 25 years of experience in cardiac and neuro med device companies. Prior to co-founding SynchNeuro, Emily was one of the initial employees at NeuroPace, where she worked in various medical affairs and clinical engineering roles over her 22 years with the company. She has published research on various topics related to EEG, neuromodulation and business. She holds an MBA and M.S. in Strategic Management from Indiana Kelley School of Business.

Entrepreneur Presenters

Andy Gotshalk, CEO Neurologic Solutions, Inc.

Andy Gotshalk is the CEO of Neurologic Solutions, Inc., a startup company dedicated to pioneering advanced analytical solutions that revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of patients afflicted by epilepsy and a spectrum of neurological disorders. Andy is a medical device executive with over 20 years’ experience and most recently was the founder and CEO of Blackrock Neuromed. Blackrock Neuromed was an innovative EEG technology company that developed and commercialized high definition EEG and was acquired by Natus Medical Inc. in 2017. Prior to Blackrock Neuromed, he was the CEO of Blackrock Microsystems where he successfully commercialized research products in the neurophysiology market. Prior to that, Mr. Gotshalk was responsible for sales and operations for the US Surgical Division of Haemonetics Corporation.

Emily Mirro, President and Co-Founder, SynchNeuro

Emily Mirro is the President and Co-Founder of SynchNeuro, a company developing a noninvasive, brain signal-based metabolic health wearable for consumers. She has more than 25 years of experience in cardiac and neuro med device companies. Prior to co-founding SynchNeuro, Emily was one of the initial employees at NeuroPace, where she worked in various medical affairs and clinical engineering roles over her 22 years with the company. She has published research on various topics related to EEG, neuromodulation and business. She holds an MBA and M.S. in Strategic Management from Indiana Kelley School of Business.