Stanford Brain Stimulation Lab

What Stanford Brain Stimulation Lab does

Stanford Brain Stimulation Lab is an academic research unit within Stanford University School of Medicine focused on interventional psychiatry and circuit-based neuromodulation for treatment-resistant psychiatric conditions. The lab's flagship contribution is the Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy (SAINT) protocol, a personalized transcranial magnetic stimulation approach that uses functional connectivity MRI to individually target the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex network. Pilot data reported a ~90% remission rate in treatment-resistant depression. Subsequent work expanded the protocol into obsessive-compulsive disorder, cannabis use disorder, traumatic brain injury, and borderline personality disorder, supported by an NIH-funded portfolio and a 2021 double-blind randomized controlled trial.

The lab operates as a non-commercial research entity. It does not sell a product directly; rather, clinical deployment of the SAINT protocol is channeled through Magnus Medical, a Stanford-affiliated spin-out. The lab's revenue-equivalent inputs are NIH and NIMH grants, Stanford institutional support, and philanthropic donations. Its outputs are peer-reviewed publications, clinical trial datasets, intellectual property (including Dr. Vivek Buch's patents on AI-assisted surgical guidance), and trained personnel who move into affiliated commercial and academic entities. The federal-facing side is reinforced through a 2024-02-07 NIH SPARC REVEAL partnership, and the lab has extended into fMRI neurofeedback via a partnership with Matter Neuroscience.

The lab employs approximately 11 staff under principal investigators including Dr. Nolan Williams (deceased 2026) and Dr. Vivek Buch. Its direct stakeholders are trial participants, federal funders, Stanford University School of Medicine, and the broader psychiatric research community; commercial revenue flows through Magnus Medical rather than the lab itself. Customer concentration risk is dominated by NIH/NIMH grant dependency rather than enterprise sales. The principal strategic exposures are founder succession, single-funder dependency, and translation of academic results into commercial products through the Magnus Medical vehicle.

Name

Stanford Brain Stimulation Lab

Legal name

Stanford Brain Stimulation Lab

Website

https://bsl.stanford.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stanford Brain Stimulation Lab is an academic research unit within Stanford University School of Medicine that develops precision TMS protocols (notably the SAINT protocol) for treatment-resistant psychiatric conditions, funded by NIH grants and deployed clinically through Magnus Medical.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Neuromodulation Research

NAICS

Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (6215)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Central Laboratory Services (Core Lab Operations) (HLAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Clinical Biomarker Testing Services (central labs, trial enrollment/monitoring assays) (HLAAAMAC)

Keywords

• Neuromodulation therapy
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation
• Clinical trial research
• Depression treatment research
• Brain stimulation research

Headquarters

HQ city

Stanford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Clinical Research Funding: The lab operates primarily through research grants from NIH, NIMH, and other federal funding agencies, as well as philanthropy and donations. SAINT development has been supported by a combination of donor and federally funded large multisite clinical trials.
2. Philanthropy and Donations: Accepts donations through Stanford University's philanthropy infrastructure to support ongoing research and clinical trials.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Stanford Brain Stimulation Lab is an academic research laboratory that develops and clinically tests novel neuromodulation protocols for severe neuropsychiatric conditions, most notably the SAINT protocol for treatment-resistant depression. It conducts multiple registered clinical trials in transcranial magnetic stimulation, theta-burst stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation, fMRI neurofeedback, and experimental pharmacotherapy, delivering treatment at no cost to enrolled research participants. The lab operates as part of Stanford University School of Medicine and is funded by federal grants, foundation awards, and philanthropic donations.

Product overview

The Stanford Brain Stimulation Lab is a clinical research facility offering neuromodulation treatments for neuropsychiatric conditions. The core offering is SAINT (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy), an accelerated TMS protocol for treatment-resistant depression that showed 90% remission rates in pilot trials. The lab also offers Stanford Neuromodulation Therapy (SNT), fMRI Neurofeedback with Matter Neuroscience App, and various TMS protocols (aiTBS, rTMS, theta-burst stimulation). Treatment areas include treatment-resistant depression, OCD, bipolar disorder, addiction, chronic pain, and borderline personality disorder. The lab conducts multiple clinical trials investigating biomarkers, dosing optimization, and new applications for these neuromodulation therapies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SAINT (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy): A personalized, accelerated TMS protocol that uses advanced imaging technologies with targeted, higher-dosed, and spatially optimized intermittent theta-burst stimulation to treat severe, treatment-resistant depression.

Products and services

• Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy (SAINT) A personalized, accelerated transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) protocol that merges advanced imaging technologies with targeted, higher-dosed, and spatially optimized intermittent theta-burst stimulation to treat severe, treatment-resistant depression. Treatment is delivered over 5 days as part of an ongoing clinical trial program and is provided at no cost to enrolled research participants.
• Stanford Neuromodulation Therapy (SNT) A double-blind randomized controlled trial protocol for neuromodulation treatment of depression involving accelerated theta-burst stimulation targeting specific brain regions, designed as an enhanced version of transcranial magnetic stimulation and delivered to research participants enrolled in the lab's clinical trial.
• fMRI Neurofeedback with Matter Neuroscience App A non-invasive brain modulation clinical study using real-time 7T functional MRI neurofeedback combined with the Matter Neuroscience iOS phone app, in which participants learn to self-regulate brain activity while viewing personal photos capturing positive memories during MRI sessions and at home.
• REVEAL Vagus Nerve Stimulation Study NIH SPARC-funded multi-institution research center studying the effect of vagus nerve stimulation on the autonomic, cardiovascular, immune, and metabolic systems, with 140+ patients managed across 8 institutions and over 40 key personnel.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% remission rate in SAINT pilot trial (31/31 patients met remission criteria)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• NIH SPARC (Stimulating Peripheral Activity to Relieve Conditions) ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 February 2024REVEAL (Research Evaluating Vagal Excitation and Anatomical Linkages) is an NIH-funded multi-institution research center involving 8 major academic and medical institutions with over 40 key personnel. The ambitious scope involves managing 140+ patients across the Clinical Core to study VNS effects on autonomic nervous system, cardiovascular system, immune system, and metabolism. Includes External Advisory Board with patient advocates, Data and Safety Monitoring Board, and NIH Steering Committee.
• Matter NeurosciencesupportingTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration with Matter Neuroscience to conduct an fMRI neurofeedback study using their iOS-based phone application. The app helps participants collect and reflect on personal photos capturing positive memories, used alongside real-time 7T fMRI neurofeedback sessions. Study evaluates safety and feasibility of personalized neurofeedback for major depressive disorder.
• Magnus MedicalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer lab member Clive Veerapal now working at Magnus Medical on clinical trials. Several alumni have transitioned to roles at Magnus Medical including Katy Stimpson (Sr. Manager of clinical trials), Eleanor Cole (Director of Research, then Director of Innovation at Neuronetics), Mike Feyder (Sr. Manager of R&D), and TJ Ford (Field Clinical Engineer).
• Boulder Neuropsychological ServicesminorOthersAlumni placement - Afik Faerman now Clinical Neuropsychologist at Boulder Neuropsychological Services
• Eli Lilly and CompanyminorOthersAlumni placement - Dr. James Bishop now Associate Director Medical Science Liaison - Neuroscience for Eli Lilly
• NeuralinkminorOthersAlumni placement - Romina Nejad now Clinical Trials Manager at Neuralink
• Neuronetics, Inc.supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEleanor Cole (former Post Doc, first author on SAINT study) now Director of Innovation at Neuronetics, Inc. (company developing TMS/neuromodulation technology)
• Acacia Mental HealthminorOthersAlumni placements - Eleanor Cole (former Director of Research) and Danielle DeSouza (now VP of Research) at Acacia Mental Health
• UCLA Neuromodulation DivisionminorOthersAlumni placement - Angela Phillips (former Post-Doctoral Fellow, SAINT study team) now Neuromodulation Division Director at UCLA
• Université de Rennes, FranceminorOthersAlumni placement - Dr. Jean-Marie Batail (MD/PhD postdoctoral scholar) now Professor/Psychiatrist at Université de Rennes in France

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• MagVenture: Manufacturer of TMS/MagPro systems used in depression and research protocols. Comparable to Magstim as a broad TMS hardware incumbent serving both clinical and academic neuromodulation users globally.
• Magstim: Established manufacturer of TMS stimulators and coils used widely in research and clinical protocols including aiTBS. Provides the hardware backbone used by BSL protocols and competes broadly in the TMS equipment ecosystem.

Emerging players

• Flow Neuroscience: Developer of an at-home, app-guided TMS device for treatment-resistant depression. Emerging direct competitor in the patient-facing accelerated TMS category that BSL's SAINT protocol helped create.

Direct peers

• Magnus Medical: Commercial-stage company advancing SAINT-derived protocols; multiple BSL alumni (Clive Veerapal, Katy Stimpson, Mike Feyder, TJ Ford) now work at Magnus Medical. Closest commercial translation vehicle of the SAINT platform and a natural licensing/development partner.
• Casey Halpern Lab, University of Pennsylvania: Academic DBS and electrophysiology research program focused on psychiatric and eating-disorder targets. BSL's Cammie Rolle completed postdoctoral training there. Direct peer in invasive neuromodulation methodology and clinical trial design.
• Neuronetics, Inc. Manufacturer of the FDA-cleared NeuroStar TMS system for MDD, OCD, and smoking cessation. Eleanor Cole, first author on the SAINT study, now serves as Director of Innovation at Neuronetics. Closest established TMS device and clinical services competitor.
• Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Brain Stimulation Lab: Foundational brain stimulation lab under Mark George, MD, where founder Nolan Williams trained. Multiple BSL faculty (e.g., Chris Austelle) trained there. Closest historical and methodological peer in TMS/clinical-translational neuromodulation.
• BrainsWay Ltd. Developer of Deep TMS (dTMS) systems FDA-cleared for MDD, OCD, and smoking cessation. Directly competes with SAINT/SNT in the accelerated, non-invasive depression treatment category with established commercial channels.
• Johns Hopkins Brain Stimulation Program: Academic clinical brain stimulation program offering TMS, ECT, and DBS for treatment-resistant psychiatric conditions. Comparable academic peer with overlapping trial portfolio, grant funding sources, and trainee pipeline.
• Conor Liston Lab, Weill Cornell Medicine: Weill Cornell lab running accelerated TMS clinical trials for depression (e.g., the Stanford-co-led DLPFC vs DMPFC subtype trial). BSL faculty member Jarrod Ehrie previously trained there. Directly comparable academic neuromodulation research program with overlapping trial design.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Stanford_BSL
• Facebookfacebook.com/stanforduniversitybrainstimulationlab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stanford-brain-stimulation-lab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Stanford Brain Stimulation Lab