The journal Epilepsy & Behavior just published an article I wrote for a new section they've introduced on technological approaches to the scientific explorations of epilepsy and behavior. In The Future of Neurotechnology Innovation I review advances across several areas of neurotech research including stem cells treatments, new imaging technologies, drug delivery technologies and novel neuromodulation platforms and posit that these will be the primary avenues by which researchers will acclerate the development of treatments and cures for brain-related illnesses over the next decade. Over the coming week I'll be sharing key pieces of the article here, starting with the introduction.

Neurological diseases and psychiatric illnesses account for more hospitalizations, long-term care, and chronic suffering than nearly all other health conditions combined. Beyond the untold human suffering, the annual economic burden of brain-related illnesses has reached more than $1 trillion in the United States. Critical unmet medical needs remain in almost every area of brain and nervous system disorders, including: Alzheimer’s disease, addiction, anxiety, depression, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, obesity, pain, Parkinson’s disease, sensory disorders, spinal cord injury, stroke, schizophrenia, sleep disorders, and traumatic brain injury.

An increasing awareness of this growing economic problem and the corresponding market opportunity of nearly 2 billion people worldwide are stimulating both public and private funding in neurotechnology including new drugs, medical devices, and diagnostics for brain and peripheral nervous system disorders. Recent advances in neuroscience have dramatically expanded our understanding of the basic biological and behavioral components of brain-related illnesses. In particular, an increasing number of neurotransmitters, neurotransmitter receptors, ion channels, and other proteins critical for normal brain functioning have been identified and characterized genetically engineered animal models have improved target validation and neuroimaging techniques have made it easier to study what occurs in the injured and healthy brain. Although great strides have been made over the past decade, technological advances across several areas of research and development hold promise for the development of even more efficacious treatments and, for the first time, cures for brain and peripheral nervous system disorders. These areas include stem cell treatments, new imaging technologies, drug delivery technologies, and novel neuromodulation platforms.