In this blog, I sat down with Sam, entrepreneur, engineer, and innovator to talk about his journey from studying neuroscience to designing cutting-edge medical devices. Sam shares personal insights that inspired his work, the realities of innovation, and advice for budding entrepreneurs.
Thanks for joining me, Sam. Can you start by telling us a little bit about your background?
Absolutely. I studied neuroscience as an undergrad, and the reason I got into it was very personal. My cousin and I were the same age, we grew up together, went to the same school, lived in the same house. At 11, he had a stroke on the playground, out of nowhere. He was pronounced brain-dead. It turned out he had undiagnosed leukaemia that had spread to his brain and caused a tumour to bleed out.
Watching him slowly regain function was incredible. He went from complete paralysis to gradually being able to move and speak again. But the experience also opened my eyes to how outdated stroke rehabilitation can be. In stroke wards, it’s like stepping back in time, just exercise balls and rails. No miracle drugs, no high-tech interventions.
That frustration led me to study the brain. I wanted to understand why treatments were so limited and what could be done differently. I started visiting him in care homes, and over time, as I studied, I began experimenting with ways to help him regain function psychologically, physically. One idea we had was using muscle signals to trigger stimulation in real-time. That idea became the foundation of everything I do today.
That’s powerful. So how did you go from that idea to developing an actual device?
After my neuroscience degree, I did a master’s in medical device design and entrepreneurship at Imperial. It’s quite a competitive course, but I was lucky to be accepted. I then worked at Imperial as a research associate, without a PhD, which is rare, developing various medical devices. I focused a lot on stroke rehabilitation, brain tumour drug delivery systems, EEG caps for neonatal seizures. It was an incredibly hands-on role.
More recently, I received funding through ARIA (Advanced Research and Invention Agency), which has been transformative. They don’t just fund you and forget; they build a platform, a community. It’s allowed me to bring this neurotech to Cambridge here.
Can you describe the device you're working on now?
Sure. It’s a wearable neurotech device. It uses a high-density array of electrodes to detect EMG signals, basically the tiny muscle signals your body emits when you try to move. Then it applies electrical stimulation in real time, using those signals as biofeedback to actually assist the intended movement. This approach taps into the brain’s plasticity and helps retrain the nervous system.
The device came from a simple desire, helping my cousin play PlayStation again. He’d recovered enough to move one hand, but the other was neglected. As kids, our main way of socializing was gaming. Watching him sit there, unable to join in, was heartbreaking. So that became a sort of north star: if I could help him regain function in that hand, maybe everything else - eating, dressing, independence - would follow. Unfortunately, he passed away recently. But this device is now for all the people like him. It represents millions globally who are dealing with the same challenges.
What’s been your proudest moment in your journey so far?
Honestly, my neuroscience thesis. I argued something bold: astrocytes are more important than neurons. People often focus on neurons, but astrocytes regulate blood flow, monitor synapses, and manage the brain’s metabolic supply. That understanding became the physiological backbone of my device, if I hadn’t done that work, I wouldn't have the confidence in its plasticity-boosting potential.
It sounds like a deeply interdisciplinary process. How do you approach the balance between science, design, and usability?
That’s the core of it, wearing multiple hats. In research, you can get away with complexity. But in MedTech, the solution has to be simple, scalable, and human-cantered. You need to obsess over the problem, understand the patient experience, and design around real limitations - budget, manufacturing, accessibility.
You can’t just build “cool tech.” That’s great for research, but it doesn’t help patients unless it's affordable and practical. So we always start with the problem, research the science thoroughly, and design the "vehicle" to deliver that science. That means everything from engineering and usability testing to regulatory standards and supply chain planning.
Cambridge seems to be playing a big role in your current work. What’s your impression of the ecosystem here?
I love it. I came from Imperial, which is world-class, no doubt, but Cambridge feels like the whole city is designed for innovation. Every conversation on the street is about research, startups, or collaboration. There’s a building here for everything we struggled to find room for in London. And the people, you bump into someone and later find out they run the Milner Institute or founded a major startup.
The integration between academics, startups, and investors is just seamless here. Everyone's within walking distance, and everyone’s open to ideas. That doesn’t exist in many places, not even in Silicon Valley, I’d argue. This ecosystem grows with you, and that’s something special.
Finally, what advice would you give to students or early-stage innovators thinking about turning their ideas into ventures?
First, don’t let fear or competition stop you. I hesitated early on because I worried about others copying my idea or doing it better. But no one can execute your vision the way you can especially if you’re truly passionate.
Second, don’t do it for money. Everyone here could land a well-paying job straight out of university. But if you’re chasing cash, this path will crush you. You need grit. You need to love the process or at least believe in your idea so strongly that the uncertainty is worth it.
Finally, collaborate. Use your university’s resources. Work with your professors. Spin out with the university. Surround yourself with people who can help. There’s so much support if you look for it. So don’t isolate yourself. Build something meaningful and build it with others.