Rethinking therapy. Redefining patient outcomes.

Yi-Kai Lo, Chief Executive Officer at ANEUVO, is a cutting-edge researcher, engineer, and scientist-turned-innovator. He has published over 40 journal and conference papers, and developed the first fully integrated 1024-channel system-on-a-chip for epi-retinal prostheses.

Dr. Lo’s research focuses on leveraging intelligent bioelectronics to provide possible solutions for impossible problems. In 2016, he received the UCLA Proof-of-Concept Start-up Fund Award for his work with Professor Wentai Liu, developing innovative neuromodulation devices to improve human health by targeting an array of diseases and organ injuries associated with the central, peripheral, autonomic, and enteric nervous systems. Together with Professor Liu, Dr. Lo co-founded ANEUVO in 2016.

Dr. Lo earned his Master of Science degree in Electronics Engineering from the National Chiao-Tung University in Taiwan. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Bioengineering from UCLA.

A globally recognized leader in neuroengineering, Professor Liu is committed to conducting interdisciplinary research and collaborating with others to develop new solutions capable of resolving unmet medical needs. He has published over 200 research and technical papers in fields including bioelectronics, neural prosthetics, bio-signal processing, brain-machine interface development, and personalized learning. His recent research focuses on science and technology to regain eyesight for the blind, restore motor function after spinal cord injury, recover and enhance cognition for the cognition impaired, and develop theranostics for the autonomous nervous system. Before co-founding ANEUVO, Professor Liu led engineering efforts to develop a retinal implant that has been successful in restoring sight to the blind. The implant received CE Mark approval in 2011 and U.S. FDA market approval in 2013. Professor Liu has also conducted research into the treatment of endocrine disorders and is working to develop a medical device to treat intestinal obstructions. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the NASA Group Achievement Award, an Honorary Doctorate from National Chiao Tung University, designation as an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Fellow in 2016, the Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award in 2010, and the R&D 100 Award in 2009. Professor Liu earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Electronics Engineering from the National Chiao-Tung University in Taiwan and came to the U.S. as a government-sponsored Ph.D. student. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, and became a professor at North Carolina State University in 1983. In 2003, he joined the University of California, Santa Cruz as a professor in Electrical Engineering. He became Campus Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center on Biomimetic Microelectronic Systems (BMES). Today, he is a Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

With over two decades of experience in the neuromodulation industry, Katie Velez is a global strategic marketing professional with a passion for developing and commercializing cutting-edge therapies that improve patients’ lives. Before joining ANEUVO in 2022, Ms. Velez worked in consulting, product development and marketing for large strategic organizations including St. Jude Medical, Boston Scientific, and Abbott. Her background includes deep brain stimulation for movement and psychiatric disorders, as well as spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain. Ms. Velez has a proven track record of leading market assessment, competitive analysis, product launch, and strategic planning for neuromodulation therapies across domestic and international markets for Class II and Class III medical devices.

As the Vice President of Global Marketing and Strategy at ANEUVO, Ms. Velez is responsible for creating and executing the global strategic plan for the company’s neuromodulation portfolio, including the launch of ANEUVO’s ExaStim,a novel therapy for spinal cord injury. She works closely with cross-functional teams, key opinion leaders, and external partners to drive market access and expansion, adoption, and differentiation for ANEUVO's products, and to identify and evaluate new opportunities for growth and innovation in this rapidly evolving field.

With over two decades of experience in research and development,operations, and the regulatory aspects of medical device development, Shobha Aggarwal has dedicated her career to advancing the field of bioelectronic medical devices. Her expertise spans the complete product development lifecycle, from concept through design, verification, validation, regulatory approval, and commercialization—all within the highly regulated medical device environment.She has successfully led cross-functional teams to deliver innovative products that meet strict quality and regulatory standards, particularly in the Class II and Class III medical device sectors.

Before joining ANEUVO, Ms. Aggarwal served in leadership roles at Boston Scientific, Advanced Bionics, SetPoint Medical, Presidio Medical, and Bioniqa, where she honed her technical skills as well as her ability to mentor and develop future leaders in the field. She is inspired by the potential to improve patients’ quality of life by contributing to the development and approval of cutting-edge medical technologies that address unmet medical needs, including providing rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injuries and peripheral nerve stimulation. Ms. Aggarwal holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Computer Technology from VJ Technical Institute, and a Master of Science in Computer Engineering degree from the University of California Santa Barbara.