Nicholas Opie

Co-funder, Synchron

Professor Nicholas Opie is a global expert in neural interfaces and endovascular bionics pioneer. 

He designed and developed the world's first endovascular brain computer interface that can be implanted without invasive brain surgery. His creation, the Stentrode, is aimed at restoring communication, mobility and independence to people with paralysis. He is currently working to expand the capability of this technology to treat other neurological conditions including epilepsy, depression and Parkinson's disease. 

Prof Opie earned his undergraduate degrees in Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering (Hons) and Science at Monash University, his PhD in retinal neuroprostheses at the University of Melbourne and his MBA from Melbourne Business School. 

He is an NHMRC Investigator Fellow and Head of the Vascular Bionics Laboratory within the Department of Medicine at the University of Melbourne where he has been awarded more than $30M in research funding to translate his technology from concept to clinic. He is a founding director of Synchron Australia and Synchron Inc, raising more than $200 million to commercialise the Stentrode System. 

Prof Opie has published more than 55 peer-reviewed publications, including in Nature Biomedical Engineering and Nature Biotechnology, has presented his work at over 200 local and international conferences and is an inventor of over 90 patents. He has been received numerous awards for his inventions, including Times Top 100 inventions in 2022.