Grand Challenges in Neuroscience
Advancements in neuroscience are reshaping our understanding of the human brain, but significant challenges remain in translating scientific breakthroughs into effective treatments. From overcoming the blood-brain barrier to developing more precise drug delivery methods, researchers and engineers are working to bridge the gap between discovery and patient impact.
In the webinar “Grand Challenges in Neuroscience” from January 21, 2025, Dr. Jacob Hooker, Lurie Family Professor of Radiology and Scientific Director at the Lurie Center for Autism at Massachusetts General Hospital, joins Nick Allan, Bio Services Manager at StarFish Medical, to discuss some of the biggest hurdles in neuroscience today. The conversation explores the complex interplay between chemistry, biology, and medical device engineering, offering insights into the latest innovations in neurotherapeutics, molecular imaging, and non-invasive drug delivery technologies.
Dr. Hooker shares his expertise in using positron emission tomography (PET) and functional MRI to study the molecular mechanisms of brain function and disease. He discusses how cutting-edge imaging techniques are unlocking new ways to diagnose and treat neurological disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and psychiatric conditions. These tools address some grand challenges in modern neuroscience research.
A major focus of the discussion is the blood-brain barrier, a protective mechanism that makes it difficult to deliver therapeutics directly to the brain. The speakers examine novel strategies to bypass this challenge, including focused ultrasound, molecular engineering, and olfactory-based drug delivery systems. They also explore how medical device innovation plays a crucial role in advancing cell and gene therapy delivery, ensuring safety and efficacy while minimizing risk.
Beyond drug delivery, the webinar covers the growing role of wearables and real-time monitoring technologies in neuroscience. The potential for home-administered or regionally accessible treatments is expanding, with new engineering solutions making these approaches more feasible. Addressing these grand challenges in neuroscience is revolutionizing treatment accessibility.
The discussion also touches on the future of mental health treatments, emerging research in ALS and neurodegenerative disease, and the role of molecular glues and genetic therapies in addressing complex neurological conditions.
Whether you’re involved in medical device development, neuroscience research, or healthcare innovation, this webinar provides invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of brain health technologies.
Grand Challenges in Neuroscience
Solving mysteries of the human brain with drug delivery
Presenter Bios:
Nick Allan
Nick has over 19 years of regulatory and product development experience in the field of microbiology and assay development. Over his career, Nick has provided innovative solutions to issues ranging from proof-of-concept studies for rapid detection point of care assays, to full scale regulatory submission studies. At StarFish Medical, he applies this skill set to product development and currently manages the Bio Services division, formed in 2015 to support novel infectious disease detection platforms and gene and cell therapy products. Through the Bio Services department, Nick oversees advanced equipment, BSL2 facilities and personnel with advanced degrees and training in Bio Services focus areas.
Dr. Jacob Hooker
Dr. Hooker is currently Lurie Family Professor of Radiology in the Field of Autism Research at Harvard Medical School and a Phyllis and Jerome Lyle Rappaport MGH Research Scholar at Mass General. He received his PhD in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley in 2007. Dr. Hooker then completed two fellowships—a Goldhaber Distinguished Fellowship and a Ruth Kirschstein Fellowship—at Brookhaven National Laboratory, where he maintained an appointment as an Associate Scientist through 2013. In 2009, Dr. Hooker moved to Boston to join the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital. There he co-founded and co-directs a first-in-class imaging facility that merges functional MRI and positron emission tomography for neurochemical study of the human brain. He is an active consultant and advisor to the pharmaceutical industry in neurotherapeutics; he currently serves as a scientific advisory board member for, among others, Rocket Health, Psy Therapeutics, Delix Therapeutics, and Human Health. In 2017, he co-founded Eikonizo Therapeutics which leverages molecular imaging to de-risk drug discovery in the pursuit of disease-modifying therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. in 2021, the co-founded Sensorium Therapeutics to develop breakthrough medicines to address a growing unmet medical need in mental health and neurological diseases.