Stimulating Brains

In this episode of Stimulating Brains, we're thrilled to have Jim McNasby join us. Jim is a deep brain stimulation (DBS) patient and the Chief Counsel at the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Jim has an inspiring story, not just as a DBS patient but also as a legal professional working at the forefront of Parkinson’s research advocacy. We’ll dive into his personal experience with DBS—how it has shaped his life since his diagnosis in 2000 and his surgery in 2019—and explore his crucial role at the Michael J. Fox Foundation, where he helps drive forward their mission to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease. I had the pleasure of hearing Jim speak at the Neuromodec Conference, where he shared a powerful story of how DBS transformed his life, even showing a video that vividly captured its positive effects. We’ll talk about that, his DBS wishlist, and the work he’s doing to advocate for patients and drive research. In this episode, we explore his personal experiences, the impact of DBS, and his role in advancing Parkinson's research and advocacy at the foundation. Jim also reflects on the transformative moment when his DBS was first activated and discusses his vision for the future of patient care and innovation in the field.

Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Bálint Várkuti, a distinguished expert in the field of neuromodulation. Dr. Várkuti is the founder and CEO of CereGate, a pioneering company developing brain-computer interface technologies—referred to as computer-brain interface technologies—that aim to enhance neuromodulation therapies. Before founding CereGate, Dr. Várkuti made significant contributions to image-guided DBS programming solutions at Brainlab. With over a decade of experience in neurotechnology and the medical device industry, his work focuses on designing innovative interfaces between technology and the human brain to improve patient outcomes. For those familiar with DBS, you’ll understand the nuances here: when stimulation of the super-dynamic nucleus in DBS is set too high, patients often experience a tingling or irritating sensation due to overstimulation of sensory fibers. Typically, this side effect is avoided. However, Dr. Várkuti had a groundbreaking insight: This sensation represented a channel of information with the brain – and one could make use of it! In a nutshell, CereGate leverages these overlooked pathways, using them in a patterned and complex way to transmit information that the brain can decode. This approach opens up new possibilities for interfacing with the brain, which we find truly fascinating: This concept that CereGate is exploring might just be the start of a much larger field of innovation.

In this episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Mark McAuley, a deep brain stimulation (DBS) patient and the CEO of Astronomy Australia Limited, and Dr. Susan Boehnke, an Associate Professor at Queen’s University in Canada and director of the Neurotech Microcredential Program and the Neurotech Discovery Lab. Together, they've been part of remarkable efforts that not only focus on the practical and ethical aspects of neurotechnology but also engage students in real-time research. Mark brings over thirty years of experience in research and development, with a remarkable track record of securing $300 million in Australian Government grants for major research infrastructure projects. Holding degrees in astrophysics, ancient history, and an MBA—where he was awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s medal as the university's highest-achieving postgraduate student—Mark was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2010 and received a DBS implant in 2020. Post-surgery, he's been a passionate advocate for better patient care and improved DBS programming to enhance clinical outcomes. Dr. Susan Boehnke completed her PhD in Neuroscience at Dalhousie University and has an extensive background in auditory neuroscience and primate neurophysiology. She led the creation of one of the first non-human primate models of Alzheimer’s disease and established Canada's first non-human primate biobank. In response to the explosion of interest in neurotechnology, she's now pioneering a micro-credential program in neurotech and exploring the ethical issues surrounding it. She's also leading the Training Committee for Connected Minds, a significant research initiative between York and Queen’s Universities. At the recent Neuromodec conference in New York, Mark and Susan presented their work, which emphasizes patient inclusion in research—a theme Dr. Boehnke passionately advocates for—and provides transformative learning experiences for students. Today, we'll dive into their journeys, the science behind their projects, and explore potential insights into the future of patient-led research and education in neurotechnology.

In today’s episode, we dive deep into two groundbreaking studies led by Daniela and Clément. We explore their 2022 Nature Communications paper on using cerebellar stimulation to alleviate levodopa-induced dyskinesias in Parkinson’s disease and discuss their 2023 paper uncovering the cerebellum’s role in regulating fear extinction through its connections with the thalamo-prefrontal cortex pathway. Along the way, we discuss how these discoveries may open up exciting new possibilities for treating both motor and emotional disorders. Tune in for an insightful conversation packed with cutting-edge science and exciting future perspectives!