What does it take to challenge the deadliest brain tumors with sound waves? How do you scale a medtech startup into a multinational clinical company? And what advice can a top neuro-oncology innovator offer to those hoping to follow a similar path?

Welcome to Neurocareers: Doing the Impossible! — The podcast where we explore the extraordinary journeys of those advancing the future of neuroscience and neurotechnology.

I'm your host, Dr. Milena Korostenskaja. Today we're speaking with Dr. Michael Canney, the Chief Scientific Officer at Carthera, a clinical-stage medtech company revolutionizing brain therapy through therapeutic ultrasound.

With over 15 years of experience in MedTech innovation, Dr. Canney specializes in glioblastoma, neurodegenerative diseases, and therapeutic ultrasound drug delivery. He's currently leading the SONOBIRD Phase 3 clinical trial across 40 sites in the U.S. and Europe, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in treating recurrent glioblastoma.

Michael's career spans everything from FDA regulatory strategy to high-impact academic collaborations. He's co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed papers in top-tier journals and 14 patent families. But what truly drives him is improving patient outcomes and bringing hope to some of the most challenging areas in brain health.

Whether you're curious about clinical trials, neuro-oncology innovations, or carving out your own career in medtech, this conversation is packed with insight and inspiration.

Let's dive in!

Chapters:

00:00:01 - Revolutionizing Brain Therapy with Ultrasound, Introducing Dr. Michael Canney
00:04:49 - Advancements in Ultrasound for Drug Delivery
00:10:15 - Innovative Ultrasound for Drug Delivery
00:13:49 - Innovative Ultrasound Approach for Tumor Treatment
00:16:02 - Understanding Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption
00:19:28 - Device Overview and Design Features
00:21:32 - Ultrasound Technology for Tumor Treatment
00:24:15 - Device Implantation in Cancer Treatment
00:28:34 - Challenges in Glioblastoma Treatment Trials
00:31:46 - Dr. Michael Canney's Journey into Ultrasound Research
00:36:15 - Starting a Postdoc Journey
00:39:20 - Career Development in Neuroscience
00:43:31 - Building a Startup Team
00:47:38 - Hiring for Clinical Application Specialists
00:52:16 - Growth of Careers in Neurotechnology
00:54:26 - Using AI in Clinical Trials
00:57:13 - Challenges in Medical Device Approval
00:59:41 - Overcoming Challenges in Medical Innovations
01:02:20 - Clinical Trials and Company Information

About the Podcast Guest:

Michael Canney, Ph.D., is Chief Scientific Officer at Carthera, a clinical-stage medtech company advancing brain therapy through innovative ultrasound-based devices. A co-author of more than 50 peer-reviewed articles, he specializes in neuro-oncology, glioblastoma and neurodegenerative diseases. At Carthera, he is responsible for leading scientific collaborations with academic institutions, organizing U.S. clinical trials and more.

Connect with Dr. Canney on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-canney-ph-d-42457b5/

Learn more about Carthera: https://carthera.eu/

Get familiar with the Sonobird clinical trial: https://sonobird.eu/

About the Podcast Host:

The Neurocareers podcast is brought to you by The Institute of Neuroapproaches (https://www.neuroapproaches.org/) and its founder, Milena Korostenskaja, Ph.D. (Dr. K), a career coach for people in neuroscience and neurotechnologies. As a professional coach with a background in neurotech and Brain-Computer Interfaces, Dr. K understands the unique challenges and opportunities job applicants face in this field and can provide personalized coaching and support to help you succeed.

Here's what you'll get with one-on-one coaching sessions from Dr. K:

Identification and pursuit of career goals
Guidance on job search strategies, resume, and cover letter development
Neurotech / neuroscience job interview preparation and practice
Networking strategies to connect with professionals in the field of neuroscience and neurotechnologies
Ongoing support and guidance to help you stay on track and achieve your goals

You can always schedule a free neurocareer consultation/coaching session with Dr. K at https://neuroapproaches.as.me/free-neurocareer-consultation

Subscribe to our Nerocareers Newsletter to stay on top of all our cool neurocareers news at updates https://www.neuroapproaches.org/neurocareers-news

Ultrasound Implant Against Glioblastoma: Disrupting the Blood-Brain Barrier with Michael Canney, PhD

Neurocareers: Doing the Impossible!