Success Stories
NeurInsight Advancing Brain Imaging Innovation in Albuquerque
Albuquerque is home to a growing ecosystem of cutting-edge science, and NeurInsight LLC stands out as a unique example of innovation rooted in our city. Founded in 2012, NeurInsight is a biotech startup developing breakthrough real-time diagnostic MRI methods to better map human brain function and the underlying physiology. Their work has the potential to transform how neurosurgeons and care teams plan and perform some of the most delicate procedures in medicine.
Since its founding, NeurInsight has leveraged a powerful combination of national and state-level support to fuel its research and growth. The company has received two Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) awards from the National Institutes of Health, including a Phase I grant in 2014 and a Fast-Track grant in 2023, which is now in Phase II, with Dr. Stefan Posse, the founder of NeurInsight, as principal investigator. In addition, NeurInsight has received iCorps at NIH funding in 2024 and New Mexico Economic Development Department funding in both 2021 and 2024, critical investments that have helped advance the commercialization of their groundbreaking imaging technology. More recently, NeurInsight received investor funding.
NeurInsight’s mission is ambitious: to improve individualized treatment strategies and prognosis through patient-specific functional brain mapping using advanced data acquisition, data analysis, and seamless integration into clinical workflows. This project is carried out in close collaboration with the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Stellar Science Ltd Co, a computer software company located in Albuquerque, Carina Medical LLC, an AI software company in Virginia, and major academic partner institutions nationwide, including the University of Minnesota and Yale University. The company is now preparing to launch a clinical validation study in collaboration with neurosurgeons and neuroradiologists at Yale University. This study will explore the feasibility of using NeurInsight’s real-time MRI technology in both pre-surgical and intra-operative environments to guide neurosurgery in patients with brain tumors—an advancement that could meaningfully impact patient outcomes in tumor surgery and be used to advance the treatment of other neurological disorders, such as epilepsy surgery and deep brain stimulation.
Looking ahead, NeurInsight’s goal is to secure FDA approval and bring a commercial product to market that provides a unique intra-operative mapping capability not feasible with competing products. Support with funding, technical expertise, and navigating the “Valley of Death” between research and commercialization will be essential steps as the company continues its trajectory forward.
NeurInsight’s connection with the City deepened this fall when the team met with the Albuquerque Small Business Office and connected with Small Business Liaison Ken Jackson at a local conference. The company looks forward to continuing to engage with the City’s Economic Development Department, taking advantage of upcoming networking and marketing opportunities to help accelerate its mission.
With bold vision, advanced scientific innovation, academic collaborations nationwide and strong connections within Albuquerque’s business and research communities, NeurInsight LLC exemplifies the remarkable potential of our local entrepreneurial ecosystem. Their work is not only pushing the boundaries of medical imaging, it is helping shape a healthier and more technologically advanced future for patients worldwide.