San Francisco area Committee
Beyond the Brain: The Next Frontier of Human-Machine Interaction
How close are we to truly seamless interaction between humans and machines?
Join us for an exclusive conversation at the forefront of neurotechnology, where leading innovators will explore how brain-computer interfaces and emerging human-machine interaction technologies are moving from research labs into real-world applications.
This session will open with live demonstrations and presentations from pioneering companies in the field. You’ll discover how different technological approaches – ranging from ultrasound-based interfaces to neural electrodes – are tackling one of the field’s greatest challenges: accurately capturing and interpreting brain signals.
Moderated by Jun Axup Penman, Chief Operating Officer at E11 Bio, the discussion will bring together expert voices:
Claire Nastaskin, Founding Member, Merge Labs
Philip Sabes, Cofounder, Neuralink & Integral Neurotechnologies
Philip Shamash, Neural Interfaces Research Scientist, Meta Reality Labs
Through a guided panel discussion, speakers will share:
Their personal journeys into neurotechnology
A deep dive into the technologies shaping the field today
Current and near-term clinical applications, including ongoing trials
Long-term, “sci-fi” visions for human-machine integration
Their perspectives on what’s needed next to accelerate innovation
The session will conclude with audience Q&A, offering a unique opportunity to engage directly with leaders shaping the future of human-machine interaction.
Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, healthcare professional, investor, or simply curious about the future, this event offers a rare glimpse into what’s next, beyond the brain.
Learn more about the Speakers
Philip Sabes is a neuroscientist and neurotechnology entrepreneur focused on developing tools to measure and modulate human brain circuits. He is co-founder of Integral Neurotechnologies.
Dr. Sabes was a Professor of Physiology at UCSF, where his lab combined neurophysiology, computation, and behavior to study how sensory feedback shapes movement and learning, including early demonstrations that artificial signals delivered via microstimulation can be incorporated into natural behavior.
His lab also developed advanced neural interface technologies, including optogenetic tools and a robotic system for inserting flexible, high-density electrode arrays. In 2017, Dr. Sabes co-founded Neuralink, where this approach was developed into a high-channel-count, fully implanted wireless brain–computer interface.
Dr. Sabes now focuses on developing next-generation neural interfaces for neurological and psychiatric disorders, including implantable systems for neuromodulation and experimental platforms for large-scale, causal studies of human brain circuits.
Jun Axup Penman is Chief Operating Officer at E11 Bio, a non-profit Focused Research Organization building scalable technologies for brain circuit mapping.
Previously, she was Chief Science Officer & Partner at IndieBio, a leading biotech startup accelerator for human and planetary health, where she advised over 160 companies, ran scientific programming, made investment decisions, and built community. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Biology from The Scripps Research Institute and worked at several biotech startups.
Dr. Claire Nastaskin is an expert in functional ultrasound imaging, an emerging neuroimaging modality that enables high-resolution, mapping of brain activity. She earned her PhD in Applied Physics from the Physics for Medicine Lab in Paris, France, a pioneering group behind the development of functional ultrasound imaging. Claire is currently a key contributor at Forest Neurotech, a nonprofit Focused Research Organization developing next-generation ultrasound-based BCIs to advance minimally invasive neurotechnology. She also holds a dual role with Merge Labs, a research organization focused on bridging biological and artificial intelligence to augment human capabilities.
Philip Shamash is a Neural Interfaces Research Scientist at Meta Reality Labs. He develops machine learning models powering the Neural Band, a wristband that translates electromyography (EMG) signals into real-time control of smart devices. Philip completed his PhD at University College London, where he designed novel neural stimulation techniques to reveal how the brain learns multi-step skills. Before that, he worked in the Axel Lab at Columbia University on experiments integrating simultaneous neural recording and stimulation.
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