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Neurotech Revolution: China's Ethical Crossroads

Neurotech Revolution: China's Ethical Crossroads

Exploring the Implications of Advancing Brain-Computer Interfaces

Daniel Knez
May 23, 2024

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🌐 Healthcare | News

China's Progress in Brain-Computer Interfaces Raises Ethical Concerns

China is quickly catching up to the US in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, which allows direct control of devices through brain signals. While US efforts have focused on medical applications like helping the paralyzed, China envisions using BCIs for cognitive enhancement of healthy individuals. A recent demonstration showcased a monkey operating a robotic arm with an implanted BCI. Analysts highlight China's strong motivation, aiming to develop non-medical uses like attention modulation and memory regulation, per recent ethical guidelines. This contrasts with the US BRAIN Initiative's medical focus. Experts raise concerns over China's intent to merge human and machine intelligence, with potential national security implications if such technologies provide cognitive advantages for warfare. "China's strategy fundamentally links the military and the commercial, and that is why there is concern," notes a Georgia Tech professor. Read More

Tractor Supply Settles EEOC Lawsuit Over HIV Discrimination

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) settled a discrimination lawsuit with Tractor Supply Company, alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The EEOC claimed that Tractor Supply unlawfully disclosed an employee's HIV-positive status, a protected disability under the ADA, leading to harassment from co-workers. When the employee complained about the hostile work environment, the company fired her in retaliation. Under the $75,000 settlement, Tractor Supply will provide ADA training to all employees.

"[Employees] should also be able to work without being harassed because of their disability," stated EEOC Birmingham District Director Bradley Anderson. The case highlights the importance of maintaining confidentiality of employees' medical information and promptly addressing discrimination complaints to prevent unlawful retaliation. Despite promoting itself as a welcoming workplace, the retailer failed to uphold its commitment in this instance, underscoring the need for consistent policies and training. Read More

🚀 HealthTech | Startups | YCombinator

Nabla Bio Secures $26M Series A and Over $550M in Pharma Collaborations for Generative Protein Design Platform

Nabla Bio Co-Founders Surge Biswas and Frances Anastassacos at the company's labs in Cambridge, Mass. (Photo: Business Wire)

Nabla Bio, a pioneer in generative protein design, announced closing a $26 million Series A financing led by Radical Ventures, alongside strategic collaborations with AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Takeda worth over $550 million in upfront and milestone payments plus royalties. Nabla develops AI and wet-lab technologies enabling atomically precise design of antibody drugs targeting challenging multi-pass membrane proteins like GPCRs and ion channels.

"We are unlocking new opportunities to build highly selective drugs against validated, but hard-to-drug targets with a degree of structural precision not previously possible," said Nabla CEO Surge Biswas. The collaborations with top pharma companies aim to expand their pipelines with high-quality candidates against tough targets. "We could double the number of disease-relevant drug targets the industry goes after," noted co-founder Frances Anastassacos.

The funding will drive expansion of Nabla's generative AI platform for precise protein drug design, unlocking vast therapeutic opportunities against previously undruggable targets. "We're excited to be working with Nabla...with the aim to design new drug candidates against challenging targets," stated AstraZeneca's Puja Sapra. Read More

Keylika's Iron Skin Patch Aims to Revolutionize Anemia Treatment

Keylika Co-Founder& CEO: Buddhadev Chaudhuri

Y Combinator-backed Keylika is pioneering a novel approach to managing iron deficiency anemia through a proprietary iron molecule and innovative skin patch delivery system. The startup, founded by experienced scientists Buddhadev Chaudhuri and Frederik Ceyssens, aims to overcome the drawbacks of current oral supplements and IV infusions, which suffer from poor absorption, side effects, and high costs. Keylika has developed a first-of-its-kind mixed ligand iron molecule optimized for transdermal delivery, allowing iron to be absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the skin. "Our novel molecule is small in size, and tailored for a skin-based delivery system that bypasses the entire gastrointestinal tract, minimizing the associated side-effects. This results in superior absorption and better clinical outcomes," says Ceyssens. With its focus on the intersection of drug development and delivery, Keylika aims to provide a more convenient, effective, and affordable solution for the 1.6 billion people globally suffering from iron deficiency anemia. Read More

Boulder Care Secures $35M for Expanding Virtual Addiction Treatment

Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash

Boulder Care, a virtual provider of addiction treatment services, has raised $35 million in Series C funding led by new investor Advance Venture Partners. The startup offers Telehealth based treatment for opioid and alcohol use disorders, working with Medicaid plans to provide medication-assisted therapies, peer support, and assistance with social services like housing. The funding will fuel Boulder Care's expansion into new states, with a goal of growing from 6 to 10 states over the next two years.

"Philosophically the biggest thing for us is scaling a model that is incredibly high-touch [and] bespoke by design. At the same time, we know there are 50 million people with substance use disorder," notes CEO Stephanie Strong. The round brings Boulder Care to profitability and includes participation from Stripes alongside existing investors. "They've built this brick-by-brick, which makes it important for them to focus on the economics of everything they do," says Advance Venture Partners' managing partner David ibnAle, who joins the board. Read More

🧠 Healthcare | AI

NearWave: AI-Powered Imaging for Rapid Breast Cancer Therapy Monitoring

NearWave has developed a novel handheld imaging technology with AI that enables physicians to assess the efficacy of breast cancer therapies within a week, rather than waiting 3-12 months with current methods. This allows rapid adjustments or changes in treatment plans, sparing patients from months of unnecessary side effects if their initial therapy is ineffective - a situation that affects around 70% of breast cancer patients.

The device uses non-invasive near-infrared spectroscopy to measure biomarkers like blood, water, and lipids, providing metabolic and hemodynamic information about the tumor's response to treatment. AI models then predict therapy outcomes based on these measurements. "If oncologists knew efficacy in a few days, they would make real-time adjustments to therapy, personalizing care for each patient," the company states.

With 4 systems already sold and FDA clearance underway, NearWave aims to become the standard of care within 5 years, initially for breast cancer but eventually expanding to lesion classification for the broader women's health market. The technology could revolutionize cancer care while reducing the $50 billion yearly cost of ineffective breast cancer treatments in the US alone. Read More

🚀 Healthcare | Innovations

Top Cancer Researchers Recruited to Houston with $22M in Grants

Photo by Adrian Newell on Unsplash

Baylor College of Medicine has received a total of $12 million in grants from the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas to attract two prominent cancer researchers - Thomas Milner and Radek Skoda. The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center secured $8 million to recruit Susan Bullman and Oren Rom, while Texas A&M University received nearly $2 million to bring on Lauren Hagler.

The grants underscore Houston's commitment to bolstering its cancer research capabilities by attracting top scientific talent. "Recruiting outstanding faculty is critical to achieving our mission to prevent and cure cancer," said a Baylor representative. The institutes aim to leverage the expertise of these acclaimed researchers in areas like photo-medicine, blood cancers, microbiome-cancer links, and RNA cancer biology to advance innovative treatments and diagnostics. Read More

Non-Invasive Spinal Cord Stimulation Shows Potential for Restoring Function After Paralysis

A small clinical trial found that applying non-invasive electrical stimulation to the spinal cord helped 72% of tetraplegia patients regain some arm and hand function. The stimulation involves placing electrodes on the back of the neck to deliver pulses to the spinal cord, with no surgery required. While improvements were modest, participants reported meaningful gains in daily tasks like using touchscreens and tying balloons. "There's no miracles in spinal injuries, but tiny gains can be life-changing," said one patient. However, the therapy's broader potential is limited by lack of understanding around why it works. More research is needed on the stimulation's mechanisms for potentially enhancing neuroplasticity and motor recovery. Read More

Abu Dhabi Launches Accelerator Program to Advance as Biotech and Life Sciences Hub

The Abu Dhabi-based startup accelerator startAD and the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) have partnered to launch HealthX, a program aimed at positioning Abu Dhabi as a global hub for biotech and life sciences innovation. Over two years, HealthX will support 30 cutting-edge global life science startups in areas like generative AI for healthcare, genomics, neurodegenerative diseases, and mental health tech. Startups will receive intensive training, regulatory support, access to data and research facilities, pilot opportunities with healthcare partners, and investor connections. "We are leading the charge to transform the industry and co-create a sustainable operating environment for global healthcare life sciences startups," said startAD Managing Director Ramesh Jagannathan. The initiative leverages Abu Dhabi's advanced healthcare ecosystem to tackle global health challenges through innovation. Read More