Invited Speakers

Keynote Speakers

Ellis Meng

Keynote Speaker

Ellis Meng is the Shelly and Ofer Nemirovsky Chair of Convergent Biosciences and Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California. She is also the Vice Dean of Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Her research interests include biomedical microelectromechanical systems (bioMEMS), implantable biomedical microdevices, microfluidics, integrated microsystems, microsensors and actuators, biocompatible polymer microfabrication, and packaging. She is a fellow of IEEE and received the 2018 IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Technical Achievement Award and 2019 IEEE Sensors Council Technical Achievement Award. She is a member of the following societies in IEEE: Engineering Medicine in Biology, Electron Devices, and Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control. She was the North American representative on the Engineering Medicine in Biology Society and more recently, served as its VP Technical Activities (2022-2023). She serves on the IEEE MEMS Technical Community which she helped found with MEMS colleagues. She is on the editorial board of the Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems and Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering. She is also an inventor, co-founder of two companies based on her research, and author of a textbook on bioMEMS.

Giacomo Indiveri

Giacomo Indiveri

Keynote Speaker

Giacomo Indiveri is Professor of Neuromorphic Cognitive Systems at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. He holds an MSc in electrical engineering and a PhD in computer science. His interests lie in the design of mixed-signal neuromorphic electronic systems and learning circuits. His group uses these neuromorphic circuits to validate brain-inspired computational paradigms in real-world scenarios and to develop a new generation of fault-tolerant event-based neuromorphic computing technologies. Indiveri is the senior member of the IEEE society and a recipient of the 2021 IEEE Biomedical Circuits and Systems Best Paper Award. He is also an ERC fellow, receiving three European Research Council grants.
Adele Barnard

Adele Barnard

Keynote Speaker

Adele Barnard combines a PhD in Immunology with almost 20 years of experience in neuromodulation, having contributed to the development of some of the earliest waveforms and IPG systems in the mid-2000s. With extensive expertise in managing clinical trials in both the medical device and pharmacology sectors, she has led clinical research across Australia and held executive roles in prominent US companies, including Nevro and Abbott. Currently, Adele heads up a portfolio of clinical trials at Veritus Research in Australia. She also serves on human research ethics boards for medical device studies and consults to biotech companies, providing insights into the Australian regulatory landscape.

Panel and Workshop Speakers

Lindsey Jardine

Panel Speaker

Lindsey Jardine is a senior-level clinical and regulatory consultant specializing in novel Class III neurotechnology. She has guided multiple Breakthrough Designation devices through FDA pathways, from early feasibility to pivotal trials, with a current focus on first-in-human studies and closed-loop stimulation systems. With a background spanning startups and cross-functional teams, Lindsey is known for aligning regulatory, clinical, and business goals into cohesive strategies that accelerate development without compromising rigor. Her work centers on helping teams navigate ambiguity. Whether it’s shaping trial design, building evidence frameworks, or translating innovative tech into meaningful patient outcomes. She’s looking forward to this panel discussion on regulated neurotech, and to sharing practical insights from the field where strategy meets execution.
Jojo Platt

JoJo Platt

Panel Speaker

JoJo Platt is a recognized leader in the neurotechnology and medtech ecosystems, known for her ability to bridge the gap between research, commercialization, and investment. With years of experience facilitating collaborations between scientists, engineers, and investors, she has played a pivotal role in advancing innovative technologies from concept to market. Her expertise spans neuromodulation, bioelectronic medicine, and early-stage startup strategy, making her an invaluable resource for companies seeking guidance in funding, partnerships, and market positioning​. JoJo has worked alongside some of the foremost pioneers in neurotech, advocating for scientific rigor, industry growth, and patient-centric innovation​. Startups looking to navigate the complexities of fundraising, product development, and regulatory landscapes benefit from JoJo’s deep understanding of the medtech ecosystem. Her extensive network includes venture capitalists, angel investors, and key opinion leaders who help shape the future of healthcare innovation​. As a frequent speaker and panel moderator at global conferences, she brings fresh insights into how emerging technologies can successfully transition from academic research to real-world impact. Whether it’s developing commercialization strategies, refining investor pitches, or fostering meaningful collaborations, JoJo’s strategic acumen makes her a trusted advisor for entrepreneurs looking to transform bold ideas into tangible solutions​.

Daniel Powell

Panel Speaker

Daniel Powell has over 25 years of experience delivering technical solutions across multiple industries. In 2006, Mr. Powell found his true passion in medical devices, specifically neurostimulation, and has since launched multiple products in the space, including Deep Brain Stimulation for movement disorders and Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Epilepsy. Mr. Powell co-founded and serves as CEO of Spark Biomedical, the developer of the FDA-cleared Sparrow Ascent; a novel, wearable neurostimulation solution to address opioid withdrawal and addiction for adults. Under Mr. Powell’s leadership, Spark continues to advance the science of wearable neurostimulation and is developing a solution for Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome – addressing the most vulnerable victims of the opioid epidemic, newborn babies.

Philip Sabes

Panel Speaker

Philip Sabes is a neurotechnology innovator, UCSF Professor Emeritus, and startup co-founder. Dr. Sabes received his PhD from MIT in human motor control and machine learning and studied primate neurophysiology as a postdoc at Caltech. His UCSF lab combined neurophysiology, computation, and behavior to study sensory feedback in movement control. The lab also developed new technologies for Brain Machine Interfacing, including brain-computer interfaces for sensory restoration. In 2017, Dr. Sabes retired from UCSF to cofound Neuralink. While there, the company refined the “sewing-machine” approach started in his lab, demonstrating 1000+ channels of robotically-inserted, micron-scale thin-film electrodes with a fully implanted, wireless interface. Dr. Sabes is currently Cofounder and CSO of Integral Neurotechnologies, a new startup focused on implantable brain interfaces for neuromodulation. The company is building next-generation deep brain interfaces to understand and treat neurologic and psychiatric disorders.
Sridevi Sarma

Sridevi Sarma

Panel Speaker

Sridevi Sarma received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University; and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Brain and Cognitive Sciences Department at the MIT. She is now a Professor in the Institute for Computational Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, at Johns Hopkins University. Her research includes modeling, estimation and control (via electrical stimulation) of neural systems, with a focus on epilepsy and chronic pain. She has been invited to be a speaker at over 60 venues around the world. With her undergraduate and graduate students, she has published 64 Journal Articles (15 on epilepsy diagnostics and cortical network mechanisms), 1 Book, 2 Book Chapters, 89 Peer-reviewed Conference Proceedings, 11 Patents and disclosures, and has 1 FDA cleared device. Sri is a recipient of the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Careers at the Scientific Interface Award, the Krishna Kumar New Investigator Award from the North American Neuromodulation Society, the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the Outstanding Investigator Award from NIH for her research in epilepsy, and the Whiting School of Engineering Robert B. Pond Excellence in Teaching Award.

Jayme Strauss

Panel Speaker

Jayme Strauss is a seasoned healthcare executive with over 15 years of experience at the intersection of clinical care, healthcare innovation, and commercial strategy. Beginning her career as a neurocritical care ICU nurse, she transitioned into hospital administration and later led high-growth healthcare startups, consistently building and scaling neuroscience programs and technologies. As Chief Clinical and Commercial Officer at Precision Neuroscience, she drives the integrated strategy to advance the Layer 7 Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) system from research to clinical adoption. Her responsibilities span clinical development, regulatory engagement, market access, provider education, site training, and commercialization. Under her leadership, the company achieved its first FDA 510(k) clearance, launched pivotal research collaborations, and established long-term commercialization and reimbursement strategies.