About Neurotech Reports

Neurotech Reports is dedicated to providing business and technology professionals up-to-date and forward-looking information about the field of neurotechnology and future developments that will affect the venture capital, research, and start-up communities.

Neurotech Reports serves the scientific, medical, engineering, and financial communities interested in developing the field of neurotechnology. This includes entrepreneurs interesting in launching new firms, existing biotechnology and medical device manufacturers interested in branching into a new market, scientific and engineering professionals interested in applying their skills to this new market, and venture capitalists seeking worthwhile funding opportunities.


Staff

James Cavuoto, editor and publisher

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 earned a B.S. degree in biomedical engineering from Case Western Reserve University, where he studied under pioneers in the field of functional electrical stimulation. He also pursued graduate studies in human factors engineering at University of Southern California. 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

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. He was previously head of clinical development at Mainstay Medical. 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

With over 15 years in the field of neurotechnology, JoJo Platt is independent, trusted, respected, and connected. She has built a unique and powerful network within the neurotech community. Her role in the launch of the field of bioelectronic medicine, the peer-reviewed journal of the same name, and the Feinstein Institute's Center for Bioelectronic Medicine, has afforded her the opportunity to create meaningful relationships with researchers and business leaders at all levels in neuroscience and neurophysiology, molecular biology, engineering, data science, microfabrication, materials science, signal processing, imaging, and more. She has staffed multiple labs from postdocs to PIs. JoJo's network is over 5,000 strong and includes engagement with some of the field's most influential and respected leaders. JoJo works with a variety of clients including academic and research institutions, start-ups, industry leaders, and venture firms to accelerate business and create opportunities. She travels the world to stay connected and up-to-date, and she serves on the organizing committees of some of the field's most important conferences including the Cleveland NeuroDesign Entrepreneurs Workshop, IEEE's Neural Engineering Conference and Brain Initiative, EMBC, Rice University’s InterfaceRice, the Feinstein Institutes’ Bioelectronic Medicine Summit, and Neurotech Leaders Forum and Bioelectronic Medicine Forum.

Jennifer French, senior contributing editor

Jennifer French is senior contributing editor of Neurotech Reports. She is the founder of Neurotech Network, a nonprofit organization that focuses on education and advocacy for neurotechnology end users. Jennifer became a tetraplegic due to a spinal cord injury in 1998 and is an active user of a neuroprosthetic system. She is a silver medalist from the 2012 Paralympic Games and was named the 2012 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year; the first woman with a disability receive this distinction. She has helped launch successful programs, ventures, and divisions in such organizations as Bombardier Capital, PC Connection, and USMMA Sailing Foundation. Jennifer received her MBA from Wichita State University. She works with for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, large and small, to help them penetrate new markets, profile target customers, and create and build systems to support marketing and sales efforts. She is the author of On My Feet Again (Neurotech Press, 2012), her personal story of rehabilitation using neurotechnology and co-author of Bionic Pioneers: Brave Neurotech Users Blaze the Trail to New Therapies (Neurotech Press, 2014).

Sharena Rice, contributing editor

Sharena Rice is a research scientist at a medical technology startup in neurotech that is operating in stealth mode. She earned her Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Michigan, where she was part of the team that discovered and characterized a new brain wave called “splines.” For three years, Sharena facilitated ethics discussions for incoming biomedical science trainees at the University of Michigan. For two years, Sharena served as co-founder and chief scientific officer of Intvo when the company was using computer vision to predict pedestrian behavior as a road safety solution. Sharena has a longtime fascination with the nervous system and the mind. She wrote a 45-page documentary on human behavior out of curiosity during eighth grade. She serves as scientific advisor for Valence Vibrations, Nerd (Advising Consultant) of Nobody Studios, and is on the advisory board of South by Southwest.