NERD advances companies from funding to patient impact
- The NERD program bridges critical funding gap in neurotechnology, supporting 52 projects over 12 years and generating $272 million in follow-on investments from research grants to private capital
- OBI partner Grey Matter Neurosciences is advancing non-invasive Alzheimer's treatment, securing $14 million in seed financing with NERD support to develop focused ultrasound headset technology for clinical trials starting in 2027
- Additionally, AMPA Health delivers immediate patient impact, achieving 70% remission rate from depression and anxiety through innovative "One Day treatment" transcranial magnetic stimulation protocol
Alzheimer's disease and treatment-resistant depression are two of the most complex and urgent challenges in brain health, where traditional approaches often fall short. The Ontario Brain Institute's Neurotech Early Research & Development (NERD) program is accelerating the path from breakthrough science to tangible patient outcomes by bridging the critical funding gap between research grants and private capital through milestone-based investments that de-risk neurotechnology ventures.
In just over a dozen years, NERD has supported 52 projects and generated $272 million in follow-on investments, demonstrating sustained impact across the neurotechnology sector.
Transforming Alzheimer's treatment
Grey Matter Neurosciences exemplifies this success. The company licensed focused ultrasound technology from Dr. Kullervo Hynynen at Sunnybrook Research Institute that enables precise, non-invasive brain stimulation without surgery, making treatment accessible for office and potentially home-based care. With NERD support, Grey Matter secured $14 million in seed financing led by the Wittington Innovation Fund to develop a unique ultrasound headset and initiate clinical trials in individuals living with Alzheimer's disease.
"The collaboration with Ontario Brain Institute brought credibility to our company and investment round – [our NERD partnership] gave potential investors comfort that the investment made sense," says Dr. Jeffrey Coull, founder and CEO. "This vote of confidence cannot be underestimated as OBI has a very good reputation in the neurotech space, and lots of companies can claim that they got their start through the organization, beyond dollars and cents."
Grey Matter's first clinical trial is slated for early 2027.
Delivering immediate patient impact
AMPA Health, created by Drs. Don Vaughn and Jonathan Downar at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and supported through the NERD program, has already delivered measurable results. Their transcranial magnetic stimulation system achieves a 70% remission rate from depression and anxiety through an innovative "One Day treatment" protocol.
A powerful patient testimonial showcases the impact of OBI's work across the neuroscience ecosystem: "I feel like I've been let out of prison." After nearly 20 years of struggling with anxiety and depression, the affiliated patient participant has expressed freedom, relief, and joy for the first time in her adult life – and she says her long-standing suicidal thoughts are gone.
From innovation to impact
Through programs like NERD, OBI has created a proven ecosystem where scientific discoveries become life-changing treatments, fostering innovation across the entire neurotechnology pipeline from early-stage research through clinical development to commercial scale-up.