Achal Singh Achrol

About Achal Singh Achrol

Dr. Achal Singh Achrol is an academic neurosurgeon, scientist and entrepreneur with experience in discovery and innovation spanning Academia, Medtech and Biotech industries. Achal began his career as neurosurgery faculty with a focus on advanced clinical trials and translational basic science research. Achal has since led programs in both academia and industry focused on the development of new noninvasive and minimally-invasive neurosurgical technologies. Currently Achal serves as Chief Medical Officer of Bionaut and Magnus, two venture-backed startups developing new paradigms of healthcare in neurosurgery and brain health.

Born in Jaipur, India, Achal moved to the US in 1981 with his family, who live in Virginia.

Achal graduated from the George Washington University in 2003, magna cum laude, with a degree in computer science. He completed his MD in 2009 at Stanford University School of Medicine.

Academia: Achal has led research programs at Stanford and UCSF, and served as Director of the Glioma Program and Director of Brain Tumor Research at Loma Linda University, as well as Chief of Glioma Surgery and Director of Neurosurgery Clinical Trials for the Providence Health System at the John Wayne Cancer Institute. Across these roles, Achal developed his passion for translational innovation, and a deep understanding for how to define and execute innovative clinical trials that enable new paradigms of care in neurosurgery and the clinical neurosciences. Achal served as a PI in several paradigm-shift clinical trials, including stereotactic neurosurgical stem cell implantation for TBI and stroke motor recovery (e.g. STEMTRA trial), stereotactic neurosurgery for convection-enhanced delivery (CED) of bioengineered immuno-biologics and in situ vaccines in brain tumors, development of new anti-cancer immunotherapies (including anti-CD47 myeloid checkpoint inhibitor), liquid biopsy for genome-guided targeted cancer therapies, Focused Ultrasound treatment of neurodegenerative disease and brain tumors (“incisionless neurosurgery”), Vagal Nerve Stimulation for neuroplasticity after stroke (VNS-REHAB trial), and other novel neurosurgical devices including Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI).

Insightec: Driven by a desire to create new innovations that transform the scope and impact of current clinical practice, Achal joined Insightec as Chief Medical Officer and Global Head of Medical Affairs, where he led the clinical development of “incisionless neurosurgery,” a paradigm shift in the treatment of brain diseases. Achal’s leadership of medical affairs, clinical and regulatory strategy, preclinical and clinical research & development, resulted in Insightec receiving new FDA “Breakthrough Therapy” designations, successfully completing several first-in-human and global registrational clinical trials, and ultimately achieving new FDA approvals in Parkinson’s Disease and Essential Tremor, including reimbursement and market adoption. During this time, Insightec experienced 50% year on year commercial growth, raised over $500MM in funding, and surpassed >$100MM in annual revenues, achieving a unicorn valuation of >$1B. Scientifically, Achal’s work resulted in several major advancements, including new technology IP across both therapeutic and diagnostic patent applications.

Openwater: While engaged at Insightec, Achal also concurrently served as Chief Medical Officer of Openwater, a Vinod Khosla- and Brook Byers-backed startup, where he pioneered development of novel, AI-enabled, wearable diagnostic and therapeutic neuro-technologies. Achal led the launch of first-in-human and multicenter clinical trials utilizing near-infrared optical neuro-diagnostics and ultrasound-based neuromodulation devices in neuropsychiatric applications. Scientifically, Achal’s work resulted in several major advancements, including new technology IP across both therapeutic and diagnostic patent applications.

Bionaut: Bionaut is an AI-enabled micro-robotic CNS drug delivery platform, backed by $80M+ in funding from top tier investors including Khosla Ventures, Gates Ventures, Mayo Clinic Ventures, UC Healthcare Ventures and Altitude Ventures, among others. This minimally-invasive approach uses specialized micro-robotic ‘capsules’ guided by external electromagnetic beams for precision CNS therapeutic delivery (e.g. gene therapies and regenerative cell therapies) to specific brain or spine regions.

Magnus: Personalized, rapid-acting brain circuit therapy is a paradigm shift in brain health. First developed at Stanford University ("Stanford Neuromodulation Therapy"), SNT utilizes a targeted, noninvasive electromagnetic treatment platform to acutely shift brain network dynamics, and has demonstrated dramatic efficacy vs best available treatment options (79% remission rate in treatment-refractory settings using SNT after just 5 days of therapy, compared to 14% with conventional therapy requiring 6 weeks of therapy). Granted FDA "Breakthrough Therapy" Designation and subsequent FDA approval, SNT is the first ever brain health treatment to receive innovation funding from CMS, marking a historic milestone in the 20+ years of these reimbursement programs. Magnus spun out of Stanford with the aim of bringing this exciting new innovation to large-scale human health impact, with current and future clinical trials in neurologic and mental health applications spanning depression, anxiety, OCD, addiction, PTSD, chronic pain, TBI, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, cognitive aging & dementia. Magnus raised >$50M, investors include Red Tree and JAZZ venture partners.