Electrical monitoring and stimulation could revolutionise diagnosis and treatment for some of the most aggressive brain cancers and intractable neurological diseases.
In glioblastoma, a particularly aggressive brain tumour that is hard to treat and almost invariably fatal, the impacts of an effective treatment would be huge.
My guest in this episode, Dr Elise Jenkins, is working with a new class of therapeutic brain-computer-interface (BCI) that can measure and disrupt neural signalling within the body. With this technology she and her team are creating breakthroughs in new materials and electronics to develop safe, minimally invasive interfaces to interact with the complex biology of the brain. That will lead to earlier detection of new tumours, and could pave the way for new treatments.
Elise shares her journey from aspiring medical doctor to electrical engineer to leading a neurotechnology startup. She discusses the many difficult challenges of engineering tiny bioelectronic devices, and the importance of understanding brain activity in cancer progression for them to be a success.
We also touch on regulatory hurdles, funding strategies, and the future potential of the technology in both cancer and non-cancer applications.
Elise and her team are looking to create a new approach to healthcare which will change the lives of millions.
“We're looking at how to slow down cancer growth.” – Elise Jenkins
You’ll hear about:
01:06 - Elise Jenkins and OptoBioSystems
02:30 - Elise's Journey into Science and Engineering
05:42 - Understanding Bioelectronics and Neural Interfaces
09:01 - Exploring Glioblastoma and Its Challenges
12:18 - Measuring Brain Activity and Cancer Progression
16:30 - The Role of Implants in Cancer Treatment
19:14 - Engineering Challenges in Medical Devices
22:57 - Wireless Power and Data Transmission Innovations
25:20 - Regulatory Considerations for Medical Devices
28:14 - Future Directions and Broader Applications
33:24 - Funding and Company Development
Connect with Elise Jenkins:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/elise-jenkins-/
Opto - https://www.opto.bio/
Find out about opportunities with Opto - https://www.opto.bio/team
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdavison100/
If you need any lab equipment:
Grant Instruments: https://www.grantinstruments.com/
Grant Instruments on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grant-instruments-cambridge-ltd/
