HERZLIYA, Israel, Jan. 28, 2025 — Corundum Neuroscience (CNS), a leading neuroscience venture builder and fund, today announced the appointment of Itsik Francis, PhD, as Head of Business Development. The appointment comes as the company continues to expand its portfolio of neurotech ventures and strategic partnerships.
With more than 15 years of experience spanning investment and business development in the medtech and biotech sectors, Francis will focus on driving deal flow and investment strategies to propel Corundum Neuroscience’s portfolio growth. He will also provide targeted support to portfolio companies, ensuring access to vital resources and expertise. In addition, Francis will lead initiatives to strengthen and expand Corundum Neuroscience’s collaborations with key stakeholders, including medtech, medical device, and digital health companies, as well as research institutions and industry leaders worldwide.
“Corundum Neuroscience is at the forefront of advancing neuroscience solutions, and Itsik’s strategic insight and industry expertise will be instrumental in shaping our next phase of growth,” said Yasushi Yamamoto, CEO and Founder of Corundum Corp. “His proven track record in medtech investment and business development makes him a valuable addition to our leadership team as we continue to build and scale transformative neurotechnology ventures.”
Prior to joining Corundum Neuroscience, Francis served as Principal at OurCrowd, where he led key investments and contributed to the launch of the Global Health Equity Fund in partnership with the WHO Foundation. He previously held leadership roles at Medison Pharma Ventures, where he managed strategic alliances and innovation initiatives, and at Ariel Scientific Innovations, where he directed business development efforts. Francis is also the co-founder and former CEO of Citta Pharmaceuticals, a neuro-focused biotech startup. He earned his PhD in Medical Molecular Biology from University College London and conducted postdoctoral research at Columbia University Medical Center, focusing on Alzheimer’s Disease drug discovery.
“I’m excited to join Corundum Neuroscience at such a pivotal time for the neurotech space,” said Itsik Francis. “The CNS vision of translating cutting-edge science into real-world impact resonates deeply with me and I look forward to working with the team to drive new opportunities, strengthen industry collaborations, and support the growth of the firm’s portfolio of ventures.”
This announcement was originally published via PR Newswire on January 28th, 2025. You can view the original release here.
We’re revisiting the exciting conversation from our “Beyond the Brain” industry panel during SXSW, where we explored how emerging capabilities in neurotechnology are transforming – and will continue to transform – our approach to mental health. We covered the potential for more accurate diagnoses, effective treatments and preventative tools as well as the untapped opportunities to translate a vast amount of groundbreaking research into novel real-world solutions. We also touched on some of the critical challenges of bringing neurotechnology to widespread use and the ethical considerations that must be addressed.
Moderator: Sharena Rice, PhD, Research Scientist at Sanmai Technologies PBC
Speakers:
Matias Serebrinsky, Co-founder and General Partner, PsyMed Ventures
Ruthi Aladjem, PhD, Chief Product Strategist, Corundum Neuroscience
Andreas Forsland, Founder and CEO, Cognixion
CNS’ Chief Product Strategist, Ruthi Aladjem Ph.D will lead a panel exploring the future of potential of neurotech for mental & cognitive health.
HERZLIYA, Israel – January 16, 2024 – Corundum Neuroscience, the neuroscience venture builder and fund, today announced its participation at the North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS) Annual Meeting, taking place in Las Vegas from January 18-21, 2024.
During the event, Corundum Neuroscience will partake in a panel discussion at the forum entitled “I3 – Invention, Investment, and Invigoration – Moving Neuromodulation Forward.” JoJo Platt, US Partnerships Lead for Corundum Neuroscience will moderate a panel which will explore key themes in neuromodulation innovation and the investment opportunities on the horizon. Panelists include Josh Schulman, PhD, Chief Scientist at Corundum Neuroscience, Juan-Pablo Mas, Partner at Action Potential Venture Capital, and Ariane Tom, PhD, Founder & Managing Partner for Kaleida Capital.
“While the broader life sciences sector might have cooled post-Covid, there have been many bright spots in the last year within the neuroscience sector – in both pharma and neuromodulation,” said Schulman. “I look forward to discussing the opportunities for advancing neuromodulation technologies with my industry colleagues at NANS.”
“NANS has been at the forefront of the neuromodulation community for 30 years now,” noted Platt. “As the industry continues to expand and include therapies beyond pain and other traditional neuromodulation targets, it has retained its focus on supporting the commercialization of novel devices to address critical unmet needs. The investments planned and made in this sector are important components of the ecosystem and we’re proud to be highlighting the latest news and trends.”
Given the extensive development cycles required to bring new neuroscience technologies to market, Corundum Neuroscience takes a long-term view on neuroscience investments. Bringing this important perspective to NANS, the team will pay keen attention to solutions presented at this year’s meeting, particularly focusing on solutions enabled by technological advancements in AI and human-machine interfaces as well as research that demonstrates the potential to translate research to commercial opportunities.
Corundum Neuroscience brings deep domain expertise to investments in the neuromodulation space, given past investments with companies including GrayMatters Health, developer of FDA-cleared digital self-neuromodulation therapies for mental disorders and NYX, a neurotechnology company currently developing a wearable headset for monitoring and modulating stimulating brain activity.
This year’s event will be the 30th anniversary of the annual meeting for NANS, adding new programming, including Advanced Practice Provider programming, a patient-focused plenary session, and topical sessions exploring applications of artificial intelligence in neuromodulation technologies, as well as debates applicability of these technologies on cancer pain, back pain and essential tremors. The event will provide a platform for medical education, scientific exchange, and networking opportunities within the field of neuromodulation.
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About Corundum Neuroscience
Corundum Neuroscience is a venture builder and fund advancing transformative neuroscience solutions from lab-to-life. Formerly known as Joy Ventures, the company combines deep domain expertise with a track record of venture-building success to accelerate neuroscience solutions across the entire innovation lifecycle. Headquartered in Herzliya, Israel, Corundum Neuroscience launched in September 2023.
Our CEO, Liron Nunez Weissman explores the link between sleep and brain function and how it promises advancements in treatments and outcomes across health and disease areas.