Riki Banerjee Named Chief Technology Officer at Synchron

Synchron has appointed Riki Banerjee, Ph.D., as chief technology officer (CTO), succeeding founding CTO and Synchron Co-Founder Nick Opie, Ph.D., who remains on the Board of Directors.

Banerjee leads all research and development (R&D) activities, including advancing Synchron’s neuroprosthesis device for patients with severe paralysis.

“Riki has been an instrumental part of Synchron’s growth and has also been the driving force behind our product design,” Synchron CEO/Founder Tom Oxley said. “She is a senior leader at the intersection of neuromodulation innovation, engineering, implantable medical devices and commercialization. Her expertise and leadership will be transformative as we accelerate our Synchron BCI device towards the industry’s first pivotal study. I would also like to thank Nick Opie, our founding CTO and co-founder, who will continue to play an important role as an active member of the board.”
 
Banerjee joined Synchron in September 2021 as vice president of R&D. She brings 12 years of demonstrated experience from Medtronic Neuromodulation, where she contributed as an engineer and organizational leader commercializing products across many therapies, including deep brain stimulation, sacral nerve modulation, and spinal cord stimulation. Synchron has led teams across engineering and scientific disciplines to translate medical technology to commercialized product.
 
“Synchron has developed an elegant new way to deliver a neuroprosthesis device to the brain that avoids many of the barriers of more invasive BCI approaches. I’m excited to lead the R&D and product team at this pivotal time of growth to advance this neurotechnology to patients,” Banerjee stated. “Synchron’s technology has the potential to change the lives of millions of people worldwide with upper limb impairment by delivering a first-in-class commercial BCI.”
 
Banerjee earned her Ph.D. and master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. She earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from University of Wisconsin – Madison.
 
Synchron is a neurotechnology company developing an endovascular brain-computer interface (BCI) designed to restore functionality in patients with severe paralysis. The clinical-stage company is developing a neuroprosthesis to restore motor signaling to control digital devices and restore autonomy for individuals with motor impairment. Synchron is headquartered in New York City.