Five Ways We Advance Research

The Chen Frontier Lab is focused on advancing innovative research related to the brain or mind in five ways. Depending on the circumstances, we can develop or incubate these projects in-house, sponsor external research, invest in projects incubated elsewhere, or utilize the Chen Frontier Prize to support exciting new ideas.

In-house Development

The Chen Frontier Lab engages in internal R&D efforts to develop neurotechnology prototypes that may improve the lives of patients or general public. We submit these prototypes to systematic and rigorous technical, clinical, and initial commercial validation. If this validation is successful, the technology becomes a candidate for incubation.

Incubation

Research in the Chen Frontier Lab or elsewhere may produce neurotechnology prototypes that show promise to improve the lives of patients with a specific neurological disorder. With our extensive networks in venture capital, neuroscience, engineering, and the clinical domain, we can jumpstart commercial efforts and help to incubate neurotechnologies that are focused explicitly on improving people’s lives.

Sponsored Research

We provide sponsorship for research around the world which is in our areas of focus and which has the potential of producing new neurotechnologies that improve people’s lives.

Investment

Around the world, scientists, engineers, or clinicians identify exciting neurotechnology ideas and start companies to turn these ideas into products. To support their efforts and advance the science, we invest in companies like this and support them through our extensive network of contacts in the business, science, engineering, or clinical communities.

Chen Frontier Prize

We have a strong conviction that democratizing support for good ideas can enhance research and benefit society. To facilitate this process, we created the Tianqiao & Chrissy Chen Frontier Prize to reward those ideas that have the most potential to improve people’s lives. Each Prize is specifically focused on a pressing and important technical or scientific problem that hinders further progress in neurotechnology.