On June 2-3, world-renowned experts will take us to the forefront of cognitive innovation. Delve into the rapidly evolving landscapes of neuromodulation, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), and the interaction of artificial and biological intelligence. Immerse yourself in cutting-edge technologies that are transforming lives — enabling people to walk again, talk again, see again, and hear again. Not only are these scientific breakthroughs restoring function, they are offering transformative potential for mental health and human performance. Join us to see how these discoveries are decoding the brain and mind and redefining our relationship with technology for decades to come.
HOSTS
Speakers & Agenda
DAY 1
Sunday, June 2nd, 2024
8:00 AM Breakfast, Experiential NeuroLab Opens
9:00 AM Welcome
9:20 AM Plenary Session
Ed Boyden, MIT
Tools for Repairing and Simulating the Brain
Maryam Shanechi, USC
AI-based Neurotechnology
Heather Berlin, Mount Sinai
What Does It Mean To Be Human in the Age of AI?
Helen Mayberg, Mount Sinai
What is Well?
10:25 AM Break
11:00 AM Plenary Session Continues
David Chalmers, NYU
Extending Consciousness Beyond the Brain
Paul Sajda, Columbia University
Feeling better with *NSYNC"
Amy Baxter, Pain Care Labs
Mechanical Neuromodulation: Trust The Force
Michael McCullough, BrainMind
BrainMind Today and Beyond
Immersive Experiences: Tai Chi and Qigong
Cari Shurman, Tai Chi for Kids
William Spear, Fortunate Blessings Foundation
12:30 PM Lunch with Speakers
1:40 PM Entrepreneur Spotlight
3:00 PM Breakout Discussions
4:00 PM Break
4:30 PM Immersive Experience
5:00 PM Day 1 Summary
5:15 PM Reception
6:30 PM A Feast of Ideas: Dine with BrainMind Experts
DAY 2
Monday, June 3rd, 2024
8:00 AM Breakfast & Registration, Experiential NeuroLab Opens
9:00 AM Welcome and Musical Performance
9:20 AM Plenary Session
Polina Anikeeva, MIT
The Brain-Body Interface
Doris Tsao, UC Berkeley
How the Brain Generates Our Consciousness of the World
Leigh Hochberg, Brown University
BrainGate: Implantable BCIs for the Restoration of Communication and Mobility
Thomas Oxley, Synchron
Implantable Neurotechnology: A revolution in Medicine Repeating Itself
10:20 AM Break
10:55 AM Plenary Session Continues
Nolan Williams, Stanford
Need for Speed: How to Match Acuity of Illness to Speed of Effect for Brain Therapeutics
Karen Rommelfanger, Ningen Neuroethics Co-Lab, Institute of Neuroethics Think and Do Tank
Designing Ethical Neurofutures
Ana Maiques, Neuroelectrics
Unlocking the Future of Psychiatry: How Can Neurotwins Transform Personalized Neuromodulation Therapies?
Kafui Dzirasa, Duke University
Psychiatric Neuroengineering, Cell Type Specific Neuromodulation
Elena Koustova, NIH/NIDA
Innovating on Funding for Innovation
Tai Chi and Qigong Sessions
William Spear, Fortunate Blessings Foundation
Cari Shurman, Tai Chi for Kids
12:30 PM Lunch with Speakers
1:45 PM Immersive Experiences
Ken McCaw, Musician
Jim Kwik, Kwik Brain Universe
Brain Optimization, Mental Performance, Power of Mind
2:15 PM Breakout Discussions
3:25 PM Break
4:00 PM Fireside Chat
5:00 PM Closing Reception
6:00 PM Close
ENTREPRENEUR SPOTLIGHT
Featured entrepreneurs will present groundbreaking ideas and pose impact-related questions to participants. Spotlight entrepreneurs will also host breakout discussion tables. Our Experiential Neurolab will also feature live demos from neurotech entrepreneurs in the BrainMind Ecosystem. Special forum spotlight entrepreneurs:
Jay Sanguinetti, Sanmai Technologies
Alice Albrecht, re:collect
BREAKOUT DISCUSSION MODULES
Special breakout discussions allow attendees to go deeper on specific topics. Roundtables with 8-12 participants convene around preselected BrainMind topics with brilliant subject matter experts who are leaders in their respective fields. The breakouts are designed to encourage conversation and collaboration with presenters and other great minds.
Breakout discussion topics this year’s forum include:
BREAKOUT LEADERS
Rafael Yuste, MD, PhD (Columbia University, Neurorights Foundation); Karen Rommelfanger, PhD (Institute of Neuroethics Think and Do Tank, Ningen Neuroethics Co-Lab); Jamie Daves, MBA (Neurorights Foundation)
The First Brain Data Law Just Passed. What Do You Need to Know – and What’s Next?
Blake Gurfein, PhD (Humanity Neurotech)
Non-invasive Neurotech for Brain Inflammation and Cancer
Andre Fenton, PhD (NYU)
Neural Basis of Memory: Learning to Learn
Nina Vasan, PhD (Stanford)
LLMs for Mental Healthcare: Risks and Opportunities
Matthew Sacchet, PhD (Harvard Medical School, MGH)
Beyond “Mindfulness” Toward a Science of Advanced Meditation
Sridevi V. Sarma, PhD (Johns Hopkins University)
Novel Treatments for Epilepsy and Chronic Pain
Michael Lim, MD (Stanford)
Immunotherapy in Neuro-Oncology
John Ngai, PhD (NIH BRAIN Initiative)
Neurotechnology Innovation
Haleh Fotowat, PhD (Wyss Institute)
Towards Engineering Intelligent Motile Organoids with a Nervous System
Note: All Spotlight Entrepreneurs will also lead Breakout Discussion Tables on Sunday
Noninvasive Neurotech & The Future of Electric Medicine
Meredith Perry, Elemind
Augmenting Human Intelligence: Building a Better Bridge Between Humans and Machines
Alice Albrecht, PhD, re:collect
Noninvasive Deep Neuromodulation for Treatment
Jay Sanguinetti, PhD, Sanmai Technologies
The Next Evolution of Human Capability: Merging Humans and Robots
Connor Glass, MD, Phantom Neuro
A New Bridge to Transform Neuroelectronic Medicine
John Donoghue, PhD, Institute for NeuroElectronic Medicine
Feast of Ideas: Dinner with BrainMind Experts
MULTISENSORY EXPERIENCES
BrainMind recognizes the arts as a key pathway to brain health and wellbeing, which is why we prioritize featuring outstanding artists and immersive experiences at all our gatherings.
New York City Musical Curators: Anna Gabriel and Michael Hermann, Reverberation
Michael Hermann and Anna Gabriel are cofounders of Reveberation with world renowned artist Peter Gabriel.
Reverberation operates at the convergence of music, science, technology, and medicine, wrapped in compelling entertainment and transformative tech. The studio explores music's impact on our brains and activities, creating media spanning books, TV, digital media, education, and live events. Reverberation aims to address some of the world’s most vexing problems through scientifically-rooted music and sound interventions.
Tai Chi and Qigong with Cari Shurman
Cari Shurman discovered Tai Chi and Qigong while in China over 30 years ago. Seeing how the flowing movements, the focus and the visualization were used in the schools to help students stay focused and calm she decided to incorporate it into her teaching. She eventually developed a program appropriate for all ages that can be easily used in the classroom for breaks, before a test for focus, to release stress and find inner peace.
Cari has an MAT degree from Johns Hopkins University. She has taught for over 50 years. She has worked with all age groups from elementary school to university to continuing adult education teaching foreign languages, art, Tai Chi for Kids© and Qigong. She developed her kids program over several years seeing what worked in her own classes. Cari has been working with the NYC public schools for over 20 years. She has also trained teachers through zoom in many states and countries around the world.
Tai Chi for Kids© speaks to everyone. It is non-competitive, and a chance to be in touch with ourselves, our feelings. Cari will give us a Tai Chi for Kids© break to help us focus, relax, and have fun. It is such fun to be an elephant, a dragon or even a sleeping lion.
Featured artists this year include:
EXPERIENTIAL NEUROLAB
BrainMind Summits always include a hands-on Experiential NeuroLab with exciting inventions, technology demonstrations, and artistic exhibits. Past experiences include mind-controlled visual media, AR and VR-based technologies, real human brains, 10-100x expanded brain segments, neuroscience-driven perceptual illusions, immersive education experiences, and more.
BRAIN-HEALTHY CUISINE
New research indicates that diet plays a significant role in brain function, impacting everything from memory to risk for brain diseases. We put these exciting findings into practice at our gatherings. You won’t find junky conference fare at our forum. Meals and snacks served at BrainMind feature foods and ingredients with published findings for brain health benefit. Learn more about our approach here.
DETAILS
Dates: Sunday - Monday, June 2nd - 3rd, 2024
Time: Forum: 8:00AM - 6:00 PM both days, Feast of Ideas at 6:30PM on June 2nd
Hotels: See our recommended hotels here