Our goal as developers of advanced neurotechnologies is first and foremost to help those who are suffering from neurological diseases. Given our experience in epilepsy, Carbon Cybernetics is focused on ultra-small accuracy seizure monitoring devices that can apply interventions to stop seizures before they start.
About Us
Carbon Cybernetics was born at the University of Melbourne in Prof. David Garrett’s Carbon Biomaterials research group and Prof. Steven Prawer’s Advanced Carbon Materials research program. As a part of this large team, Dr. Nick Apollo and Dr. Matias Maturana collaborated to develop neural interfacing electrodes built from graphene, carbon nanotubes, and other carbon-based nano-materials.
The high performance and soft, flexible nature of these electrodes made them ideal candidates for implementation into a robust, chronically-implanted electrode array built to last a lifetime.
Meet the Team
A/Prof. David Garrett
Associate Professor David J. Garrett is an internationally regarded research scientist invested in developing high performance electrodes for use inside the body. He holds an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship award and leads a research group at RMIT University. David has ten years of innovation in medical device technology, particularly in novel materials for neural interface applications.
Dr Matias Maturana
Matias completed his PhD in Electrical Engineering. His research focused on the electrical stimulation of neurons. As a postdoc, Matias worked on a clinical trial of deep brain stimulation for epilepsy using a special research device capable of recording brain activity. His research focus is in seizure prediction and management.
Dr Nick Apollo
Nick completed his bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering and PhD in physics. He was previously an NIH Training Fellow in Neurotechnology at the University of Pennsylvania. Currently, he works as a Sr. Scientist and Sensor Engineer in the continuous glucose monitoring industry. His research interests include microfabrication, electrochemistry, and materials science.
Dr Cyril Au
Cyril Au completed his PhD in Bioengineering at the University of Auckland, New Zealand His research is focussed on developing thermally safe, hermetic packages for wirelessly powered implants. He has extensive experience in the medical device industry, having held positions developing soft tissue implants, blood pressure and nerve recording telemeters, optogenetic implants, and leadless pacemakers. Cyril oversees all aspects involved in development of the Carbon Cybernetics preclinical and clinical prototypes.
Dr Wei Tong
Wei completed her Bachelor of Science at the University of Science and Technology of China in 2012, majoring in applied physics before moving to Australia to pursue a PhD in the School of Physics at The University of Melbourne. Wei is now a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Melbourne and National Vision Research Institute. Her research combines material sciences and neurophysiology to develop neural interface technologies. She is working on a range of cutting-edge neural interface concepts and coordinating preclinical evaluation of the Carbon Cybernetics prototype.
Simon Higham
RMIT
Simon completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering (Honours) at RMIT University, Melbourne and is now undertaking a PhD with RMIT and Carbon Cybernetics. He also as a development engineer with Carbon Cybernetics developing components and manufacturing methods for the device. He is principally responsible for delivering working prototypes into the preclinical programme.
Dr Jason Jung
Jason completed his Bachelor of Science with Honours at the University of Melbourne in 2017, majoring in neuroscience and physiology. He commenced his PhD at the NVRI in 2018 and focused on understanding how the visual signals processed in the retina are translated in the visual cortex. Jason has extensive experience in brain surgery across multiple animal models and is currently a lead surgeon at the NVRI. In 2021, Jason was appointed the inaugural Lions NVRI Vision Fellow to link the research that has been successfully undertaken in the retina and taking the next steps to implant newly designed carbon-based technology electrode arrays directly into the brain.
Khatereh Edalati
University of Melbourne
Khatereh completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Material Engineering at the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. Currently, she is doing a PhD in Physics and a research assistant at the University of Melbourne. Her research interests include biomaterials, medical devices, diamond bonding, microfabrication, and materials science. Khatereh is involved in optimising methods of integrating components of the Carbon Cybernetics device, in particular the interaction of precious metal braze alloys with diamond and carbon fibre.
Dr Sorel De Leon Vergara
RMIT
Sorel holds a professional degree in electronics engineering from the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Colombia, and a M.Sc. from Hasselt and Maastricht University in Bioelectronics and Nanotechnology, Belgium. Her PhD was based at CSIRO where she worked on an impedance-based sensor to monitor 3D cell cultures. Currently, she is a Post-Doctoral Researcher at RMIT where she works with Carbon Cybernetics developing carbon fiber electrodes, in particular optimization of the recording tips for enhanced fidelity. “My research interest lies in the use of electronics to solve big biological problems and problems in human health.
Meet the Board
Prof. Steven Prawer
Chairman
Professor Prawer is a world leader in diamond science and technology, has published over 410 journal papers and in 2010 was elected to the Australian Academy of Science. He has a long history of successful leadership in large multidisciplinary projects including the High-Acuity Arm of Bionics Vision Australia where he commercialised novel diamond devices for retinal implant technology. He also spearheaded the University of Melbourne’s entry into the world of quantum computing and co-founded Quantum Communications Victoria which produced the first commercial prototype of a single photon source.
Prof. Jim Patrick AO
Former Chief Scientist of Cochlear Australia
Jim was a member of Professor Graeme Clark’s original Cochlear Implant Research Team (1975 – 1981) at the University of Melbourne, Australia, which invented the world’s first multichannel cochlear implant. In 1981, he was a founding member of Cochlear Limited, which is now the global leader in implantable hearing solutions. During his time at Cochlear Australia he served in a variety of roles, ultimately as Chief Scientist. Jim received the Order of Australia in 2015 for distinguished service to science.
Prof. Mark Cook
Neurologist, Epileptologist, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne
Brent Cubis
Former CFO of Cochlear Ltd.
Brent has over 35 years experience, with the majority in CFO roles across a broad range of industries Health (Cochlear, Home Doctor, Fitness First), NFP (Cancer Hospital), Media (Nine Entertainment/ ACP Magazines), Property (Westfield, Sheraton) in both public and PE owned companies. He was the CFO for Cochlear (ASX:COH) from early 2017 until late 2020 and is currently an advisor to an Australian technology company. Brent Qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte and he has been a Director for various charities.
Curious to know more?
Get in touch with us today and ask about our new seizure forecasting technology.
