MedTech BioTalk 250 250 pxJoin us on a compelling episode of BioTalk as we sit down with three dynamic leaders from groundbreaking MedTech companies based in the thriving BioHealth Capital Region. These companies, JuneBrain, Xcision Medical Systems, and Sonavi Labs, were recently selected for the prestigious MedTech Innovator Accelerator, the world's largest accelerator of medical technology companies. Discover their innovative solutions and the transformative impact they are making in healthcare.

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In this episode, we delve into the cutting-edge advancements and game-changing technologies developed by our esteemed guests. Dr. Samantha Scott, Founder, and CEO of JuneBrain, shares insights on how their remote diagnostic tools utilizing retinal image data are revolutionizing disease progression evaluation, particularly in underserved communities. Ellington West, Co-Founder and CEO of Sonavi Labs, discusses the power of AI in respiratory disease detection and management and its future implications in transforming diagnostics. Michelle Crawley, President of Xcision Medical Systems, sheds light on the GammaPod system and how it disrupts the traditional breast cancer treatment model by delivering higher doses of radiation.

Our conversation also explores the significance of being part of the MedTech Innovator Accelerator, the opportunities it offers, and how it helps these companies connect with leading manufacturers, providers, and investors in the industry. We delve into the rigorous application and selection process that set these companies apart from over 1,150 applicants, highlighting their unique contributions to the field of MedTech.

We discuss the invaluable role of the BioHealth Capital Region in nurturing and propelling these companies forward. Discover how the region's ecosystem, resources, and talent have facilitated their growth, allowing them to impact patient care and medical advancements.

Join us for this captivating episode as we explore the future of MedTech innovation, the power of AI, and the transformative potential of cutting-edge technologies in the BioHealth Capital Region.

Click here to read the episode transcript.

About JuneBrain

JuneBrain, Inc. specializes in developing optical coherence tomography (OCT) products that expand the reach of neurology and ophthalmology into underserved communities around the world. Our mission begins in the neurological disease community with hardware and AI software solutions to support disease research. JuneBrain is developing tools to remotely and quantitatively evaluate the progression of diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) using retinal image data.

Nearly 1 billion individuals worldwide live with retinal and neurological diseases like MS and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Early diagnosis, detection of disease, and proper treatment are crucial to reducing the risk of disease progression and accrual of disability. However, monitoring often suffers from infrequent clinical visits and imaging exams. JuneBrain aims to address this gap and offer a network of solutions built with the end goal in mind: bettering the quality of patient care, and increasing patient engagement without burdening the clinical team.

About Dr. Samantha Scott:

Dr. Samantha Scott is the Founder and CEO of JuneBrain Inc. Dr. Scott obtained her BS in Biomechanical Engineering from Stanford University, followed by her MS and PhD degrees in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Southern California. With over 15 years of experience under her belt, she has dedicated her career to developing medical devices that diagnose and treat retinal diseases. She also uses neuroimaging and ophthalmic imaging techniques to track functional and structural changes that provide data for medical treatment.

Samantha's passion for the brain and eyes stems from her own personal experience. In 2017, she was diagnosed with a neuromuscular disorder and experienced the challenge of communicating changes in her disease to healthcare providers between clinical visits. This inspired her to launch JuneBrain. She has since built a team of brilliant and diverse individuals who share her passion for improving the quality of life for neurological and retinal disease patients.

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About Xcision Medical Systems

Xcision Medical Systems, LLC is a medical technology company developing advanced stereotactic radiotherapy solutions with the potential to significantly improve the quality of cancer care as well as the lives of patients and their loved ones. The company’s technology is designed to extend the benefits of radiation oncology to more patients and enable precision noninvasive treatments that allow patients to return to living fuller lives more quickly with less discomfort after receiving a cancer diagnosis.

Xcision’s initial focus is on breast cancer, using stereotactic radiotherapy to deliver focused radiation to a partial volume of the breast in conjunction with breast conserving treatment. The company’s first product, GammaPod™, is a new stereotactic radiotherapy system optimized for the treatment of breast cancer. The delivery of higher doses in one or several large fractions differentiates stereotactic radiotherapy from conventional techniques. The system has been developed based on a patent licensed from the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Technologies like the GammaPod have the potential to revolutionize the management of localized breast cancer and create genuine value for patients, providers and payers. Through the GammaPod Research Consortium, clinical researchers are developing new protocols to evaluate the potential of shortening the course of treatments as well as the potential to deliver doses at ablative levels prior to surgery. Upcoming trials will collect data on patient reported outcomes, side effects and the efficacy of adjuvant and neoadjuvant radiation.

About Michelle Crawley

Michelle Crawley joined Xcision in 2012 as VP of Operations. In 2020 she assumed responsibility for the commercial and regulatory and quality assurance activities. In 2022, she was promoted to President and is now responsible for developing and implementing the corporate strategy and administration of the organization outside of mainland China.

Ms. Crawley joined the company after over 13 years at Elekta where she served as the Director of North American Operations, Director of Integration and lastly as the VP of Contracts and Sales Support during the company’s largest growth period to date. Prior to her engagement with Elekta, she served on the Space Shuttle program for over 13 years in a variety of technical project management and quality assurance roles.

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About Sonavi Labs

Sonavi Labs creates medical devices and software rooted in AI and applied to auscultation, the act of listening to body sounds. We aim to transform the way respiratory diseases and infections are detected and managed. Sonavi Labs is dedicated to creating technology that is affordable, user-friendly and accessible for all levels of education and socio-economic status.

About Ellington West

Ellington West is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sonavi Labs, a medical device and software company based in Baltimore, MD. Sonavi Labs spun out of Johns Hopkins University and has created Feelix, a smart stethoscope and AI-enabled platform that harnesses the power of machine learning to identify and track respiratory abnormalities with the same accuracy as a trained physician. She brings over 10 years of experience in healthcare business development, market research and leadership to Sonavi Labs and is overseeing the development of the company's inaugural product line.

Under Ellington’s leadership, Sonavi Labs has grown from a research project into a globally recognized, pioneering health tech company. Since its founding in 2017, Sonavi Labs has raised over $6.5M in funding, received FDA approval for the Feelix hardware, been awarded 9 patents and Ellington has been named to INC Magazine’s list of the Top 100 Female Founders of 2021 in addition to being named as one of the Cartier Women’s Initiative North American Fellows. In 2021 Ellington was appointed by the Governor to the Maryland Life Sciences Advisory Board.

Ellington is a champion of diversity and has made history as one of less than 100 Black women to raise more than $1M in funding for her venture. She continues to use her platform to advocate for women in executive roles and diversity of thought leadership, particularly within the healthcare and venture capital arenas.