Sennockian 2019-2020 | Page 135

Global Perspectives on the pandemic

How three Old Sennockians have responded to challenges presented by Covid-19

In terms of experiences that this crisis has brought about , the most striking one is disinformation , ranging from fake treatments to dangerous suggestions from government officials . Something that used to be a gold standard in terms of truth – a peer-reviewed study – has also lost its meaning after some rushed publications .
Nickolai at the Central Research Laboratory hardware accelerator testing an open-source system for recording brainwaves .
Dr Nickolai Vysokov ( OS 2005 ), along with a team of scientists , entrepreneurs and fellow Old Sennockians , established BrainPatch Ltd in 2018 . The company ’ s aim is to create technologies that revolutionise the market of non-invasive brain-computer interfaces to treat neurological disorders and help us in our everyday lives . He found that he could use his company ’ s capabilities to positively respond to the global crisis .
There are a lot of unknown and strange things about the virus , with conflicting information coming from the media and scientific literature . Some reports indicated that patients might be dying from an overreaction of the immune system . Having found research suggesting that the immune system can be regulated by electrical stimulation , we set out on an ambitious journey to design a ‘ dial ’ for the immune system with the hope that it would save lives . We have been awarded a prestigious and highly competitive grant from Innovate UK to conduct independent experiments .
Having also seen a spike in demand for mental health solutions , particularly with the rise of Covid-19 , we have also developed , tested and are working on bringing to the market a stimulation that can induce a relaxing sensation and bring the benefits of meditation in under ten minutes .
I also found time to help the local NHS hospital with PPE by joining the movement for 3D printing of face shields for frontline health workers . I contacted a friend who works in A & E and asked if she needed PPE . I found a version of the face shield that suited their needs and could be printed in small batches . The response to the first few was amazing so I continued printing , providing shields and straps for face masks ( to ease the pressure on the ears ) for local hospital staff .
www . brainpatch . ai
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