Neurotechnology research is breaking new ground, fundamentally changing how we approach brain disorders. What once seemed like science fiction is now becoming a reality, offering novel ways to restore lost functions that were recently thought impossible. A recent study presented by Precision Neuroscience at the Neuroscience 2024 – Society for Neuroscience annual meeting used a unique high-precision Layer 7 Cortical Interface array, providing deeper insights into how the brain controls movement. The technology allowed unprecedented access to beta oscillation in the motor cortex and their changes during movement. This discovery might significantly impact the treatment of patients with disabilities using brain-computer interfaces (BCIs).
Such breakthroughs wouldn't be possible without the seamless collaboration of interdisciplinary teams, including neuroscientists, engineers, programmers, and doctors. Their combined efforts help integrate knowledge and technologies to maximize the potential of neurointerfaces.
Aleksandra Karpman stands out as a leader and innovator in this field. With over a decade of experience in brain-computer interfaces, she's proven her ability to turn scientific concepts into working technologies.
Her approach to neurotechnology development is comprehensive: she considers not only technical aspects but also ethical issues, practical applications, and the potential societal impact of these technologies.
Let's use her example to trace how scientific thought in neurotechnology and BCIs is evolving and where this progress is leading. Her work perfectly illustrates how an interdisciplinary approach and innovation combine to tackle the complex challenges facing scientists and developers in this field.
Aleksandra Karpman's leadership in neurotechnology is evident in her groundbreaking work at NEIRY and SUBSENSE.
At NEIRY, she spearheaded the scientific projects team. Her innovative approach led to a game-changing API for brain activity analysis. Developers could now access over 25 real-time brain activity indicators and metrics, including raw data. "We aimed higher than just creating tech," Aleksandra explains. "We wanted to unlock new realms for developers and researchers alike."
Aleksandra's guidance transformed the NEIRY team. They harnessed machine learning to decode physiological data—EEG, EMG, GSR, and PPG. The result? Key metrics that broadened the product's reach. Mental health, industrial safety, neuromarketing—no field was left untouched.
But Aleksandra's vision extended beyond the lab. She played a significant role in securing $8 million in investment—one of the largest sums for high-tech startups in Eastern Europe. The company's value skyrocketed to $33 million. "Investments aren't just about cash," she notes. "It's about selling a world-changing vision."
SUBSENSE marked Aleksandra's next big move. Here, she took the helm as head of product, pioneering the world's first non-invasive, bidirectional brain-computer interface using nanoparticles. "At SUBSENSE, we're redefining possible," Aleksandra states. "We're matching invasive system accuracy, eliminating possible risks and complications of the surgery." Their goal? To aid patients with paralysis, ALS, and Parkinson's while exploring neurostimulation for Alzheimer's and chronic pain treatment.
However, Aleksandra's role in neurotechnology extends far beyond laboratory research. Her primary focus lies in overseeing the product's development while ensuring strong connections with the market, users, and partners. She plays a critical role in defining the product's features based on real-world patient and clinician needs. Her attention to market positioning is essential in guaranteeing the product's successful adoption and maximizing its impact on users' quality of life. It is this ability to balance scientific innovation with market demands that positions her as a key figure in advancing brain-computer interfaces.
The neurotechnology field is rapidly evolving, with several key players vying for dominance. Companies like Neuralink, backed by Elon Musk, are pushing the boundaries of invasive BCIs, aiming to merge human cognition with artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, Kernel and Emotiv are focusing on non-invasive technologies, developing wearable devices that can interpret brain signals without surgical intervention. Each approach has its strengths and limitations, creating a diverse and competitive landscape.
In this high-stakes arena, SUBSENSE's nanoparticle-based technology represents a potentially game-changing middle ground. While most competitors are firmly in either the invasive or non-invasive camp, Aleksandra's work at SUBSENSE aims to combine the best of both worlds. This unique positioning could disrupt the current market dynamics, offering a solution that's both highly accurate and minimally invasive. As regulatory bodies like the FDA begin to shape the rules for BCI technologies, companies that can demonstrate both efficacy and safety will likely have a significant advantage.
Aleksandra's role at SUBSENSE is multifaceted. She's not just leading product development; she's architecting the company's future. She's forged partnerships with top-tier universities—UCSC and ETH Zurich. She's rallied over 30 leading scientists and doctors from Stanford, MIT, Harvard, and MSU. With her active involvement, SUBSENSE has already secured $3 million in pre-development funding. The next two years look promising, with plans to showcase in vivo proof-of-concept and then transition to clinical trials.
Moving from general project management to specific technological innovations, let's take a closer look at her work at SUBSENSE.
"Traditionally, we faced a dilemma: invasive BCIs offered high accuracy data but with the risk of surgical intervention, while non-invasive methods were safe but significantly less effective in BCI control," Aleksandra explains. "Our goal at SUBSENSE is to overcome this limitation using nanotechnology."
Aleksandra's innovative approach involves using nanoparticles to create a bidirectional brain-computer interface. This technology allows not only reading but also stimulating neural activity without the need for surgical intervention. "Imagine being able to 'talk' to neurons in their language without compromising brain integrity," she says.
One of the key milestones in this area has been the detailed planning and collaboration with a university laboratory to develop a methodology for safe interaction between nanoparticles and neurons. Aleksandra has played a pivotal role in product development, working closely with the scientific team to outline and structure studies aimed at optimizing the size, shape, and chemical composition of nanoparticles for maximum efficiency and minimal impact on surrounding brain tissue. Although these studies have not yet been launched, they have been thoroughly detailed and planned in collaboration with academic partners.
It's important to note that Aleksandra's involvement goes beyond product development and lab work. She is actively engaged in planning the next phases of research, including potential clinical trials, taking into account both technical and ethical considerations. Although clinical trials and protocol development are still far off, her contributions to the preparation and coordination of these future processes are already significant. "Patient safety is our top priority. We're not just developing technology, but a potential treatment for people with severe neurological disorders," she emphasizes.
Aleksandra's innovative approach to developing non-invasive BCIs opens new horizons not only in medicine but in other fields as well. Potential applications range from rehabilitation of paralyzed patients to cognitive enhancement and new forms of communication. "We're on the brink of an era where direct brain-to-brain interaction could become as commonplace as using a smartphone is today," Aleksandra predicts.
Her work in this field hasn't gone unnoticed in the scientific community. As participants at the prestigious BCI conference in Graz, Austria, Aleksandra and her team actively engaged with the academic community and manufacturers of BCI products. These interactions fostered valuable discussions, allowing them to build connections, explore potential partnerships, and stay at the forefront of the latest developments in neurotechnology. Their proactive communication with key stakeholders highlights Aleksandra's commitment to collaboration and innovation in the BCI space.
Understanding that the complexity of tasks in this field requires combining expertise from various areas, she's created a unique ecosystem of collaboration.
"There's no room for narrow specialization in neurotechnology," Aleksandra asserts. "To truly move forward, we need to combine the knowledge of neuroscientists, material scientists, engineers, programmers, and clinicians."
At NEIRY, Aleksandra implemented this approach by creating cross-functional teams to develop the brain activity analysis API. She brought together neurophysiologists, machine learning specialists, psychologists, and software engineers.
"Each expert brought a unique perspective to the problem. Neurophysiologists designed the study and identified the key patterns in brain signals that needed to be detected by machine learning (ML) algorithms. Psychologists prepared materials and developed tests to ensure the most accurate and effective interaction with the test subjects, ML specialists developed algorithms to analyze them, and programmers created a user-friendly interface for end users," she explains.
At SUBSENSE, Aleksandra took the interdisciplinary approach even further. Working on a non-invasive BCI based on nanoparticles required an even broader range of expertise. "We brought together neuroscientists, nanomaterial specialists, electrical engineers, and AI experts," Aleksandra recounts. "It wasn't just a team, but a real think tank where new ideas at the intersection of disciplines were born every day."
To ensure effective interaction between specialists from different fields, Aleksandra implemented several innovative practices:
- A "project dictionary" — a document helping specialists from different fields understand each other's terminology.
- Regular cross-functional meetings where experts exchanged ideas and jointly solved problems.
"These practices helped us overcome language barriers between disciplines and create a truly synergistic environment," Aleksandra notes.
Aleksandra's interdisciplinary approach also extends to collaboration with external partners. She initiated partnerships with leading universities and research centers, attracting additional expertise and resources to projects.
Aleksandra Karpman's journey in the world of neurotechnology isn't just an individual success story. It's a chronicle of transforming an entire industry, where bold ideas turn into real solutions capable of changing millions of lives.
From developing an API for brain activity analysis at NEIRY to creating a revolutionary non-surgical BCI at SUBSENSE, Aleksandra constantly pushes the boundaries of what's possible.
But Aleksandra's main achievement isn't specific technologies or attractive investments. It's creating a new paradigm of collaboration in neurotechnology. By bringing together scientists, engineers, doctors, and entrepreneurs, she's forming an ecosystem where innovations aren't just possible—they're inevitable.
"We're on the threshold of a new era where the boundaries between brain and machine are becoming increasingly blurred," says Aleksandra. "And our task is to ensure that this progress serves the benefit of humanity."
Aleksandra Karpman's work vividly illustrates how innovative ideas, once confined to the theoretical realm of scientific laboratories, are not just gaining traction but are also driving discoveries forward. These ideas find practical expression as they evolve into products that meet real-world needs, shaping entire industries in the process. Her ability to translate cutting-edge research into impactful solutions reflects how the fusion of science and innovation leads to tangible advancements, delivering technology that improves lives.
Looking at today's scientific achievements, it's impossible not to feel proud of the breakthroughs in science and anticipate how technologies might one day expand our capabilities, linking the world of thought with reality. And who knows what lies beyond this horizon?
