Epilepsy Foundation Awards $150,000 to Support the Development of Innovative Technology to Improve the Quality of Life for People with Epilepsy

World Renowned Epilepsy Expert Honored with 2023 Lifetime Accelerator Award

BOWIE, Md., June 12, 2023 — Epilepsy Foundation announced today it has awarded $150,000 total to two innovators who competed in the Foundation’s 2023 Shark Tank Competition held during the 17th Conference on Epilepsy Therapies and Diagnostics Development. The $100,000 prize was awarded to Dr. Angela Liedler, chief executive officer at Precisis GmbH, for EASEE™, a minimally invasive implant for bioelectrical treatment of epilepsy. The $50,000 prize was awarded to Paul Loomis, chief commercial officer at BrainCapture for its portable Electroencephalogram (EEG) device and platform to increase access to diagnostics tools for healthcare providers in underserved countries.

In addition to the Shark Tank competition, worldwide renowned epilepsy expert, Jacqueline French, M.D., was honored with the 2023 Lifetime Accelerator Award at the Conference reception. Dr. French is the chief medical and innovation officer at the Epilepsy Foundation, and the professor of Neurology at NYU Langone. Dr. French was chosen by selection committee made up of past award recipients.

“We are so excited to celebrate Dr. French for her dedication and contributions to our epilepsy community over the years,” said Brandy Fureman, Ph.D., chief outcomes officer, Epilepsy Foundation. “Dr. French has been the force behind our research and innovation program, including Shark Tank, which advances innovative ideas in epilepsy and seizure treatment and care. The winners of this year’s competition will use their prize to accelerate their innovation to the next phase of development and help improve the lives of people living with epilepsy.”

Inspired by the television show “Shark Tank,” the annual competition invites entrepreneurs from around the world to pitch their products and compete with five other finalists for funding. The winners, selected by a panel of “sharks,” will use the funding in the development and commercialization of a new product, technology, or therapeutic concept to benefit the epilepsy community.

The winner is selected by a panel of expert judges representing physicians and scientists, corporate executives, leading industry investors, people with epilepsy, and advocates. This year’s finalists included:

• Allhands Life Signature Mat by Shana Barrington for a safe mat for people with epilepsy to prevent injury
• BrainDynamics by Nitin Tandon, M.D., for a neurosurgical planning tool
• FIND Neuro by Noam Peled, Ph.D., for a decision-support system for drug-resistant epilepsy
• Eysz by Rachel Kuperman, M.D., for a platform to perform hyperventilation procedure for absence seizure monitoring

For more information about the Shark Tank Competition, please visit epilepsy.com/sharktank.

About Epilepsy

According to the World Health Organization, epilepsy is the most common serious brain disorder worldwide, with no age, racial, social class, national or geographic boundaries. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) estimates that 3.4 million people in the United States are affected by epilepsy, or approximately 1 in 26 people. Epilepsy is the underlying tendency of the brain to produce seizures, which are sudden abnormal bursts of electrical energy that disrupt brain functions. In addition to those diagnosed with epilepsy, one in ten people will have a single seizure in their lifetime.

About the Epilepsy Foundation

With a network of partners throughout the United States, the Epilepsy Foundation is leading the fight to overcome the challenges of living with epilepsy. The Foundation connects people to treatment, support and resources; leads advocacy efforts; funds innovative research and the training of specialists; and educates the public about epilepsy and seizure first aid. For more than five decades, the Epilepsy Foundation has shone a light on epilepsy to promote awareness and understanding, and to advocate for laws that matter to people with epilepsy, while also funding epilepsy research and supporting epilepsy investigators and specialists in their early careers. In partnership with the CDC, the Epilepsy Foundation has helped to improve access to care for people with epilepsy, expanded its digital reach and online resources in homes across the country, and trained more than 600,000 people in seizure recognition and first aid. The Epilepsy Foundation has also assisted more than 140,000 people through its 24/7 Helpline, and continues to focus on innovation, new therapies, community services, advocacy and education as key priorities. To learn more visit epilepsy.com or call 1.800.332.1000. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube.

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