Functional Neuromodulation, a company involved in the use and development of deep brain stimulation for Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders, has announced the appointment of Vince Owens to its board of directors. Owens has 25-year medical device industry experience as an executive and the founder and managing general partner of Guide Medical Ventures.
“Vince brings to the Board additional operational experience, strategic vision and a successful track record as an entrepreneur in neuromodulation, one of the fastest growing segments of the medical device industry,” said Dan O’Connell, Functional Neuromodulation co-founder and CEO. “We look forward to leveraging the expertise of Vince and our board as we propel the company forward and deepen our understanding of the use of deep brain stimulation for cognition in mild Alzheimer’s disease patients.”
Owens was previously co-Founder, CEO and director of Intelect Medical, a developer of deep brain stimulation technologies for patients with Parkinson’s and other neurological diseases. He was with the company from its inception in 2005 until its acquisition in 2011 by Boston Scientific for US$78 million. Prior to Intelect, Owens was founding CEO and a director of Biomec Cardiovascular, a developer of implantable devices for neuromodulation and cardiac rhythm management, which he led through acquisition by Enpath Medical.
“Given the profound economic and societal impact of Alzheimer’s Disease and recent disappointments in drug studies, there is an urgent need for effective treatments for patients. Deep brain stimulation represents a truly innovative and promising brain circuitry-based treatment method,” said Owens. “Alzheimer’s has the potential to become the largest deep brain stimulation market indication, and Functional Neuromodulation’s initial clinical research results and rapid execution of the ADvance study has been quite impressive.”
