Changing The Way We Approach Neurosurgery
Each year in the US alone there are more than 24,000 diagnosed cases of gliomas, a relentless cancer with a low rate of survival when untreated. Maximal tumor resectioning with the aid of intraoperative brain mapping is an essential neurosurgical tool that was pioneered by our founder Dr. Mitchel Berger.
Brain mapping is performed by applying stimuli directly to the brain tissue. By monitoring the patient's response to stimuli, a neurosurgeon can understand exactly which neurological functions are controlled by that region of the brain, thus informing whether a tumor can be excised safely. Maximal resection can safely be performed only by preserving areas of the brain responsible for speech, motor, sensory and cognition.
However, because existing brain mapping devices are only affordable in well-established clinics and require multiple trained doctors and nurses to operate, brain mapping is widely inaccessible in most medical settings.
We're working to change that.
Our Device
NeuroCarta is developing a cutting edge hand-held cortical/subcortical stimulator.
01
More Affordable
Our device will be priced affordably compared to current devices, enabling accessibility in all levels of medical institutions.
02
More control
Our user-oriented system will give more control and feedback to a neurosurgeon while reducing the necessary personnel of a large operating staff.
03
Lightweight and Portable
Our device is mobile and easily portable across hospitals and clinics.
Our Team
Dr. Mitchel Berger
Founder, CEO, Board Member, Principal Advisor
Sohail Desai
President, General Manager
Mitchel S. Berger, MD is currently a professor in the Department of Neurosurgery and the director of the Brain Tumor Center at UCSF.
His main clinical interests are the treatment of brain tumors in adults and children and of epilepsy related to brain tumors. He has extensive expertise in intraoperative mapping of the brain to identify the sites of motor, sensory, and language function and thereby avoid their involvement or injury during surgery.
Sohail has over 20 years of experience developing and commercializing medical devices. His expertise is in hardware, firmware and software development and systems engineering. He has held various positions of increasing responsibility at Stryker, AngioDynamics and Symple Surgical. Sohail holds a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Daniel Burnett
Board Member, Scientific Advisor
Dr. Burnett is a veteran in the medical device industry having founded many successful companies at various stages. He formed Theranova in 2006 and has raised, over $350MM for the 17+ Theranova spinouts. He is an inventor on over 40 issued patents and over 200 patents pending. He holds a position as Assistant Professor in the Bioengineering Department at the University of California San Francisco and functions as the Industry Director for the Masters of Translational Medicine Program. Prior to founding Theranova, he was a partner at Medventure after starting his first venture, BAROnova. He holds a bioengineering degree from the University of Pennsylvania and an MD and MBA from Duke.
Sampson Lau
Board Member, Advisor
Sampson Lau has 12 years of experience in the life sciences and financial services sectors. He is currently the President of PrimaNova Technologies Inc., an integrated medtech company focusing on developing a suite of next generation neurosurgical medical devices. Previously, he was Director of Investment and Business Development at China Medical System Holdings and a Vice President at Delos Capital, specializing in early-stage biotech and medtech investment in the US and China. He has extensive transaction experience in global M&A and buyout investments, working in investment banking and private equity. Sampson graduated from the University of Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics.
Dr. J.P. Clark
Scientific Advisor
J.P. Clark, PhD is currently an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anesthesia and the Manager of the Neuromonitoring Program at UCSF. He directs an international team of clinicians that provide intraoperative neurophysiology in neurosurgical, orthopedic and otolaryngologic procedures at Parnassus, Mission Bay and Mount Zion UCSF Medical Centers. His main clinical interests are the mapping and monitoring of brain regions for the preservation of neural systems in adults undergoing the surgical treatment for brain tumors, epilepsy and trigeminal neuralgia.
Address
255 Kansas Street Suite 300
San Francisco CA 94103
Phone
415-689-8889