2023 Neurotech Leaders Forum

November 6-7, 2023

Embassy Suites, San Francisco Airport Waterfront and Zoom

Tentative Agenda (all times PST) 

Day One

8:00-8:30

Registration and Coffee

8:30-9:15

State of the Neurotechnology Industry: 2023

James Cavuoto, Editor and Publisher, Neurotech Reports
Neurotech Business Report Editor James Cavuoto provides his insights and observations on the state of the neurotechnology industry. He surveys changes in the competitive landscape that have occurred over the years, the most significant events of the last year, and challenges confronting the industry in years ahead.
9:15-10:00

Keynote Address

James Schuermann, CEO, Saluda Medical Inc.
New Directions in Neuromodulation
10:00-10:30

Refreshment Break

10:30-11:15

Neurotech Investment Outlook: Bouncing Back from the Downturn

Jo Jo Platt, Senior Contributing Editor, Neurotech Reports, Moderator
Sara Shnider, Ph.D., U.S. Academic Innovation Lead, Joy Ventures
Suraj Mudichintala, Senior Associate, Action Potential Venture Capital
Martin Dieck, Founding Director, Neurotechnology Investors
The neurotech investment climate took a slight dip in the last year, but there are signs that conditions may improve in the years ahead. In this session, investors will offer their insights on what lies ahead for startups.
11:15-12:00

Changing Landscape: New SCS and PNS Vendors Enter the Scene

Jeremy Koff, Senior Consulting Editor, Neurotech Reports, Moderator
Todd Langevin, President, Biotronik Neuro
Alex Yeh, Ph.D., Founder and CTO, Neuspera Medical Inc.
Victor Pikov, Ph.D., CEO, Medipace Inc.
With the introduction of Biotronik and Saluda Medical to the U.S. market for spinal cord stimulation systems, plus the emergence of several new PNS vendors, the competitive outlook in the neuromodulation industry is likely to undergo significant change in the year ahead. In this session, we'll examine the impact of these new players and assess the outlook for consolidation and M&A activity.
12:00-1:30

Luncheon, Sponsored by Cirtec Medical

1:30-3:00

Neurotechnology Entrepreneur Panel

James Cavuoto, Editor, Neurotech Reports, Moderator
Ben Woodington, Ph.D., CEO, Opto Biosystems
Daniel Powell, CEO, Spark Biomedical
Dave Singhal, CEO, PainVox
Robert Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D., CEO, huMannity Medtec
Jonatahn O'Keeffe, Ph.D., Founder and CEO, Machine Medicine
This session features presentations from CEOs and executives of several neurotechnology start-up firms and more established technology ventures. Each executive will present an overview of their firm's technology and markets.
3:00-3:30

Refreshment Break

3:30-4:15

Choosing Our Role Models: What Neurotech Can Learn from Other Healthcare Industries

Victor Pikov, Contributing Editor, Neurotech Reports, Moderator
Marco Sorani, Ph.D., Executive Director, Development Sciences, Genentech, Inc.
David Groves, Contributing Editor, BioElectRx Business Report
While the neurotechnology market has matured considerably in recent years, it is still dwarfed by larger segments of the healthcare industry. In this session, seasoned representatives of related fields such as cardiac devices and pharmaceuticals will offer their insights on commonalities and differences that could prove relevant.
4:15-5:00

Interpreting the Data: Neuromodulation Vendors Ward Off Negative Publications 

James Cavuoto, Editor, Neurotech Reports, Moderator
Prasad Shirvalkar, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Anesthesia, UC San Francisco School of Medicine
Sanket Dhruva, M.D., Assistant Professor, Cardiology, UC San Francisco School of Medicine
Eric Grigsby M.D., Founder and Medical Director, Napa Pain Institute
The neuromodulation industry has come under attack from several negative studies and publications casting doubt on the efficacy of SCS and related therapies. In this session, we'll discuss efforts to counteract this negativity and explore the role that insurance industry interests have played in the controversy.
5:00-7:00

Cocktail Reception, Sponsored by MST

 
 

 

Day Two

8:00:8:30

Registration and Coffee

8:30-9:15

Keynote Address

Daniel Kraft, M.D., Founder and Chair, NextMed Health
The Future of Health and Medicine: Where Can Technology Take Us?
9:15-10:00

Wearables Update: Noninvasive Neuromodulation Takes New Forms

Sharena Rice, Ph.D., Contributing Editor, Neurotech Reports, Moderator
Jamie Tyler, Ph.D., Professor of Neuroengineering, University of Alabama, Birmingham
Kamran Ansari, Co-Founder & CEO, FluxWear
The market for noninvasive neuromodulation continues to exapnd, as new vendors and new technologies enter the marketplace. In this session, we'll examine the impact of alternative forms of neuromodulation, such as optical, magnetic, and focused ultrasound, on the existing wearables segment.
10:00-10:30

Coffee Break

10:30-11:15

Walking the Walk: Paralysis Community Rises Up with Neurotech

James Cavuoto, Editor, Neurotech Reports, Moderator
Marco Sorani, Ph.D., Executive Director, Development Sciences, Genentech, Inc.
Andreas Forsland, CEO, Cognixion
Erika Ross Ellison, Ph.D., Vice President, Clinical, Regulatory, and Quality, ONWARD
Several vendors and research institutions developing advanced neuroprosthetics systems have offered hope to many individuals with disorders such as spinal cord injury, ALS, and stroke. In this session, we'll look at some of the recent developments in this space and discuss the role that the disability community can play in promoting progress.
11:15-12:00

Healing the Mind: New Indications Emerge for Neuromodulation Therapies

JoJo Platt, Senior Contributing Editor, Neurotech Reports, Moderator
Nolan Williams, M.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University
Steven Goetz, CTO, Motif Neurotech
Brandon Bentzley, M.D., Ph.D., CSO, Magnus Medical
Christopher Rozell, Professor and Chair, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Instititue of Technology
Vendors of implanted and wearable neuromodulation devices have made significant strides developing new therapies for psychiatric disorders. In this session we'll offer attendees an update on the most significant developments.
12:00-1:30

Luncheon, Sponsored by Cirtec Medical

Presentation of 2023 Gold Electrode Awards
1:30-3:00

Neurotechnology Entrepreneur Panel

James Cavuoto, Editor, Neurotech Reports, Moderator
Keith Warner, CEO, NeuraLace Medical
Amy Baxter, M.D., CEO, Harmonic Pain Solutions
Nicolas Barabino, Ph.D., Consultant, Focus
Jay Sanguinetti, Co-founder and CEO, Sanmai Technologies
This session features presentations from CEOs and executives of several neurotechnology start-up firms and more established technology ventures. Each executive will present an overview of their firm's technology and markets.
3:00-3:30

Refreshment Break

3:30-4:15

Partners in Progress: Neurotech Suppliers Help Startups Get Launched

Jeremy Koff, Senior Consulting Editor, Neurotech Reports, Moderator
Brian Highley, CEO, Cirtec Medical
Eran Benjamin, Business Development Manager, Micro Systems Technologies
Uli Gommel, CTO, Neo-Bionica
Neurotech startups can save a considerable amount of time and expense by taking advantage of suppliers of key components such as power sources, interconnects, enclosures, and leads. In this session, we'll ask suppliers to cite one example of how they helped a neurotech startup hit the ground running. 
4:15-5:00

Facing the Public: An Editorial Perspective

James Cavuoto, Editor and Publisher, Neurotech Reports, Moderator
Jeremy Koff, Senior Consulting Editor, Neurotech Reports
Jo Jo Platt, Senior Contributing Editor, Neurotech Reports
Sharena Rice, Ph.D., Contributing Editor, Neurotech Reports
Victor Pikov, Ph.D., Contributing Editor, BioElectRx Business Report
In this wrap-up session, Neurotech Reports team of editors will offer their views on recent controversies facing the neuromodulation industry, including ethical concerns, dealing with bad press, and legislative and regulatory developments.
5:00-7:00

Cocktail Reception, Sponsored by MST