On-boarding of our new Wyss Zurich project MYNERVA

An interview with Greta Preatoni , Project Leader of our Wyss Zurich project MYNERVA which started at Wyss Zurich on 1st September.

Let's get to know better Greta, the project and the team behind.

Ready, steady, go!!

Introduce yourself and your project.?

I am Greta Preatoni, project leader of MYNERVA. Born and raised in Italy, my deep roots also trace back to Iceland, my mother's homeland. My academic journey took me from Italy, where I completed my Masters in Neuroscience, to Zurich in 2019. Here, I embarked on my PhD at the Neuroengineering Laboratory of ETH Zurich, led by Prof. Stanisa Raspopovic .

Throughout this remarkable journey, I have had the privilege of collaborating closely with exceptionally talented engineers, including Giacomo Valle e and Andrea Cimolato . Guided by Prof. Raspopovic, we nurtured the seed of an idea that initially began as a research project, but gradually evolved into a promising product. This transformation was catalysed?by the stark absence of comparable solutions in the market and the pressing need of countless patients.?MYNERVA is the culmination of our collective efforts: a groundbreaking #neurostimulation medical device designed to alleviate the health condition of individuals suffering from #diabetic #neuropathy.

Why is your project so important?

One of the most common complications of diabetes is peripheral neuropathy (DPN), a form of damage to the peripheral nerves, which leads to the loss of tactile sensations. This loss of sensation significantly impacts gait biomechanics, creates balance difficulties, and raises the risk of falls. These effects cause a fivefold increase in the probability of injury and hospitalization, thereby negatively impacting the patients' quality of life and often leading to comorbidities like depression and anxiety. Moreover, the damaged nerves cause chronic?pain, further worsening this vicious cycle.?Unfortunately, there are no commercially available solutions to restore sensory feedback from DPN, and the standard of care for pain involves opioids, which are highly addictive and carry severe side effects.?

In response to this pressing issue, MYNERVA is developing a groundbreaking device that addresses these challenges and therefore holds potential to improve the lives of hundreds of millions of people around the world.

Where did the idea for your project originate?

The growing interest in using neurostimulation as a non-pharmacological remedy for chronic neuropathic pain has been steadily gaining traction. With our deep-rooted expertise in this field, a genuine commitment to improving the lives of patients, and the invaluable guidance of Prof. Stanisa Raspopovic, a true authority in this area, we recognized our team's potential to develop a game-changing, non-invasive device.

Our goal was straightforward: to craft a device that could significantly impact the treatment journey of individuals suffering from diabetic neuropathy. As we continued to test and refine our approach with patients, it became increasingly evident that by leveraging advanced technologies, we could fill a critical gap in the market and successfully develop a device that could both decrease pain and artificially restore the sense of touch.

What is the biggest challenge facing your project today?

The leap from academia into the market arena certainly presents its challenges. However, our confidence fuels our determination to surmount these hurdles. We're actively seeking to bolster our team with seasoned MedTech professionals, and we're resolute in our commitment to forge a robust business model through global engagement with key opinion leaders (KOLs).

What goals would you like to achieve during your time with Wyss Zurich?

During our time in the Wyss Zurich we are resolutely dedicated to perfecting our device's design and embarking on a longitudinal clinical trial. This critical juncture will furnish us with invaluable data, thrusting MYNERVA toward the coveted FDA and CE certifications – a giant leap toward our mission of making a substantial, global impact.

Learn more about the project on https://www.wysszurich.ch/projects/mynerva