From Lab to Life: The Young Engineer Making Brain Tech More Human

At just a few millimeters beneath the scalp, the brain holds secrets to unlocking new frontiers in medical science. For Anna Belhassen, the young biomedical engineer at the forefront of this revolution, those secrets are about more than just decoding the brain, they are about creating technology that improves lives while respecting the complexities of the human experience. Her journey has been one of vision, perseverance, and a relentless commitment to bridging the gap between advanced neural interfaces and real-world applications.

A recent graduate of Imperial College London, Anna's pioneering research on sub-scalp EEG implants has positioned her as a leader in the field of neurotechnology. But it wasn’t always this way. Her path toward becoming one of the most promising voices in neurotechnology was shaped by deeply personal experiences, a profound curiosity about the brain’s power, and the desire to apply engineering to solve real human problems.

The Spark: A Personal Connection to Neurotechnology

“My fascination with neurotechnology began early. Watching my grandparents live with paralysis made me curious about how the brain connects to movement, and how engineering might restore that connection,” Anna reflects. These formative experiences of watching family members grapple with the debilitating effects of Parkinson’s disease ignited Anna’s passion for engineering and neurotechnology.

As a teenager, she was already exploring how the body’s movement could be restored through technological innovations - researching how to build advanced bionic limbs with touch sensitivity and becoming obsessed with brain computer interfaces. This early interest in bridging science with human need ultimately led her to pursue a degree in Biomedical Engineering at Imperial College London. It was there that she would embark on a journey that would redefine her vision of brain technology.

The Breakthrough: Sub-Scalp EEG Implants

During her Master's program, Anna made a groundbreaking contribution to neurotechnology with her research on sub-scalp EEG implants. Her Master’s thesis, titled “Long-Term Neural Monitoring with Minimally Invasive Sub-Scalp EEG,” introduced a revolutionary approach to monitoring brain activity. The concept of ultra-miniaturized brain implants, powered by near-field communication (NFC), offered a significant leap forward in the way we understand and interact with the brain.

The traditional sub-scalp EEG systems that monitor brain activity have often relied on large, bulky external devices, which can be uncomfortable, limiting, and difficult to integrate into everyday life. Anna’s research, however, proposed a solution that made brain monitoring more accessible and less invasive. By embedding wireless sub-scalp EEG implants that could collect neural data continuously and without the discomfort of bulky external equipment, Anna’s work challenged the conventional limits of neural interface technology.

Her innovative approach was a demonstration of how neurotechnology could be made user-friendly, non-intrusive, and efficient, allowing for long-term neural monitoring without compromising comfort or accuracy. “Neurotechnology is about more than decoding the brain, it’s about designing tools that respect the human experience,” Anna says. This guiding principle has been central to her work in neurotechnology and product design, as she seeks to ensure that technology serves people in a way that feels natural, human, and empowering.

Expanding the Dialogue: Speaking at Imperial College London

Anna’s thesis and research didn’t just attract academic attention, they also earned her the chance to share her vision and findings with peers, professors, and the next generation of engineers. Anna was invited to deliver two guest lectures at her alma mater, Imperial College London, where she further solidified her reputation as a young thought leader in the neurotechnology field.

Her first talk, titled “Long-Term Neural Monitoring with Minimally Invasive EEG,” focused on the scientific breakthroughs she’d made in brain monitoring. It was a detailed exploration of her research, breaking down how her sub-scalp implants could be used for long-term, wireless neural recording, offering a solution for neurological conditions that require continuous monitoring.

Her second talk, “A Look into Neurotechnology in Consumer Devices,” explored how emerging neural interface technologies are influencing the consumer tech world. This talk revealed Anna’s deeper understanding of how neurotechnology can bridge the gap between science and everyday technology, laying the groundwork for innovations that could make brain-related products more accessible and usable for the average consumer.

Through these speaking engagements, Anna demonstrated not only her technical expertise and her deep knowledge of the broad field of neurotechnology,  but also her ability to communicate complex ideas in a way that inspired others to think differently about the future of neurotechnology.

Building a Community: Founding the Imperial College Neurotechnology Society

Anna’s influence didn’t stop with her research or speaking engagements. Recognizing the importance of collaboration in advancing the neurotechnology field, Anna co-founded the Imperial College Neurotechnology Society, the first student-led organization in the UK dedicated to the field of neurotechnology. As the Director of Events, Anna played a pivotal role in fostering a community where students, researchers, and industry professionals could collaborate, share knowledge, and drive innovation forward. 

Under her leadership, the society hosted events that brought together influential guest speakers, ranging from leading professors like Professor Andreas Schaeffer of the Francis Crick Institute to neurotech entrepreneurs from startups like Mintneuro and BIOS, and organized hackathons that inspired students to engage directly with the challenges of neurotechnology. By nurturing this community, Anna ensured that future leaders in neurotechnology had the support, resources, and inspiration needed to turn their ideas into reality. “Anna’s mentorship inspired me to find my academic path,” said a neurotech society participant. “Before attending her workshops and neurotech events, I had never considered a career in neurotechnology - now I’m applying to research labs. She created an environment where students genuinely felt empowered to innovate.”

The Future: From Lab to Life

Today, Anna is working independently on further research and design initiatives, continually pushing the boundaries of neurotechnology to create systems that improve human performance and well-being. One area she continues to explore is the challenge of making non-invasive neural interfaces smaller and comfortable for people to wear continuously. Building on the engineering principles she developed during her academic work, such as flexible electronics, minimally invasive sensing, and user-centred device design, she has been prototyping early concepts for her non-invasive neural interface which are promising to prioritise long-term wearability. Her journey from lab-based research to real-world application highlights a growing movement in the tech world, one where engineering innovations are not just focused on performance but also on how these innovations can enhance and respect the human experience.

As neurotechnology continues to evolve, Anna’s work stands as a beacon of what is possible when technology is designed with empathy and a deep understanding of the human condition. “I want to create systems that empower people, that make them feel seen, heard, and supported by the technology they use,” she says, expressing her vision for the future of neurotechnology.

From pioneering sub-scalp EEG implants to leading the charge in educating and empowering the next generation of engineers, Anna Belhassen is proof that the future of neurotechnology is not just about advancing science, it’s about making technology more human.

Discover More:

To learn more about Anna Belhassen’s work across industries and her innovative approach to design and engineering, connect with her on LinkedIn. Stay up to date with her latest projects and insights as she continues to innovate across industries, shaping the future of design and technology.