The Stentrode Revolution: Endovascular Neural Interfaces with Nicholas Opie, PhD, MBA

Welcome to Neurocareers, the podcast that proves the impossible is possible! We're thrilled to bring you the second episode of our BCI Award Neurocareers series featuring Prof. Nicholas Opie, the mastermind behind the revolutionary Stentrode and endovascular neural interfaces. Prof. Opie, a biomedical engineer and the founding CTO of Synchron, knows what it takes to succeed in the innovative field of neurotech. Prof. Opie's Stentrode project won 1st place in the International BCI Award competition in 2021. In this podcast episode, he'll share his top tips for winning the International BCI Award and building a successful career in the industry. Join us as we dive deep into the Stentrode revolution and discover how endovascular neural interfaces are changing the game. Prof. Opie will take us through his groundbreaking research and share insights on making the impossible possible in neurotech. As always, Neurocareers inspires and educates you on the exciting and ever-evolving world of neuroscience and neurotechnologies. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the best in the field! This BCI Award Neurocareers series is a partnership between Milena Korostenskaja, PhD at the Institute of Neuroapproaches, and Christoph Guger, PhD at g.tec biomedical engineering. About the Podcast Guest: Professor Nicholas Opie, BE BSc PhD MBA, is a leading biomedical engineer and an expert in neural interfaces. He currently serves as the Laboratory Head of the Vascular Bionics Laboratory in the Department of Medicine at the University of Melbourne, where he is also an NHMRC Research Fellow. Throughout his career, Prof Opie has brought multiple biomedical devices from concept to clinic, including a suprachoroidal retinal prosthesis (bionic eye) that aims to restore vision to individuals with profound vision loss, and a motor neuron prosthesis (bionic spine) that seeks to restore independence, communication, and mobility to individuals with paralysis. He has published over 55 peer-reviewed journal articles, including in Nature Biomedical Engineering and Nature Biotechnology. Additionally, he has filed over 90 patents and was awarded the 2021 NFMRI John Raftos AM Award for Advancing Innovation. Prof Opie is also Synchron's founding Chief Technology Officer (CTO), a neural interface company based in Melbourne and New York. He has raised over AUD$210M in private funding and grants and designed Synchron's flagship product, the Stentrode™. The Stentrode is listed in Time Magazine's Top 100 Inventions of 2021 and aims to provide treatment for debilitating medical illnesses while empowering patients by reconnecting them online in ways that dramatically improve their lives. Following a successful first-in-human trial conducted in Australia on the Stentrode motor neuroprosthesis, Prof Opie and Synchron recently received approval from the US FDA. This approval paves the way for a trial in the US, which will commence this year and represents a significant step towards the first FDA approval for implantable brain-computer interfaces. To learn more about Prof Opie and his work, visit his profile page at the University of Melbourne: https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/430403-nicholas-opie. You can also check out the Stentrode SWITCH study, which involved four patients: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36622685/. Learn more about Synchron's innovative technology on their website: https://synchron.com/. Finally, connect with Prof Nicholas Opie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professor-nicholas-opie-4603289a/. About the podcast host: The Neurocareers podcast is brought to you by The Institute of Neuroapproaches (https://www.neuroapproaches.org/) and its founder, Milena Korostenskaja, Ph.D. (Dr. K), a neuroscience educator, research consultant, and career coach for students and recent graduates in neuroscience and neurotechnologies. As a professional coach with a background in the field, Dr. K understands the unique challenges and opportunities facing students in this field and can provide personalized coaching and support to help you succeed. Here's what you'll get with one-on-one coaching sessions from Dr. K: Identification and pursuit of career goals Guidance on job search strategies, resume and cover letter development, and interview preparation Access to a network of professionals in the field of neuroscience and neurotechnologies Ongoing support and guidance to help you stay on track and achieve your goals You can always schedule a free neurocareer consultation/coaching session with Dr. K at https://neuroapproaches.as.me/free-neurocareer-consultation Subscribe to our Nerocareers Newsletter to stay on top of all our cool neurocareers news at updates https://www.neuroapproaches.org/neurocareers-news