OEN NewsNeuraMedica’s mission to improve spinal surgery, build community and empower women and Natives in MedTech
Rachel Dreilinger sees her work as much more than just a day job. For her, a career in biomedical engineering is an ongoing opportunity to improve society and uplift other women and Native entrepreneurs and engineers.
As a member of the Diné (Navajo) Nation, Dreilinger has always wanted a career path that would allow her to empower herself and other Native women. Though she had a passion for science and medicine early on, Dreilinger says she had little interest in pursuing education to become a physician. Instead, she discovered biomedical engineering, and earned her degree at the University of California, San Diego. From there, she built a career that has taken her from startups to consulting, from DNA synthesis to product development.
“I work on products that help surgeons and clinicians improve outcomes and reduce healthcare costs,” she explains.
While consulting in device development, Dreilinger met Michael Tippie of Alignment Ventures, who introduced her to neurosurgeon Neil Roundy MD. Dr. Roundy had an innovative idea for a bioabsorbable surgical clip that could be used for spinal dural closure. Currently, spinal surgeries rely on permanent suture to close tears (whether intended or accidental) in spinal dura. It’s an extremely difficult and time-consuming process, especially in minimally invasive spine surgery. Dreilinger notes there is a real need for a better way to rapidly close the dura in this highly specialized field.
“Suture can take 30 minutes or longer and often requires expensive patches and glue to prevent cerebrospinal fluid leaks – it can be very frustrating,” Dreilinger explains.
Dreilinger partnered with Dr. Roundy to found NeuraMedica and began developing product prototypes with grants from Oregon Health and Science University’s (OHSU) Oregon Clinical and Translational Research Institute (OCTRI). After several years of dedicated work and securing funding through Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Tippie, NeuraMedica officially introduced DuraFuse™.
DuraFuse offers an alternative to surgical suture that saves both time and money for clinicians. The clips are non-penetrating, eliminating the need for additional glue and patches to prevent leaks. The bioabsorbable clips disappear over time and are imaging compatible – radiolucent, MRI-safe, and cause no imaging artifacts.
“Applying DuraFuse Clips is easy for surgeons to learn, and installing them is simple and quick,” Dreilinger says. “We like to say, ‘Rapid, Simple, Secure.’”
As of 2022, DuraFuse was granted FDA clearance. The company is currently completing a successful limited launch, aiming to gather feedback that builds on early clinical data. NeuraMedica is also seeking Series A funding for a full product launch.
Dreilinger says Oregon has been a prime location for developing and launching NeuraMedica and hopes to be part of a burgeoning life sciences hub in the state.
“It can be a bit harder to fundraise here compared to other locations, but I see it growing, evolving and changing,” Dreilinger says.
As she looks ahead, Dreilinger hopes to develop additional products for other areas of the body and other types of procedures. If NeuraMedica’s story eventually leads to acquisition, Dreilinger has big plans for what comes next. She says she’d step into the investor space, focusing on MedTech startups that are woman and Native-owned. Dreilinger wants to be a mentor and “cheerleader” for other entrepreneurs looking to better society through bioengineering and MedTech.
“Michael Tippie, who contributed $1M to NeuraMedica’s initial funding, has always been an important advocate for me,” Dreilinger says. “Mentors, people who want to help, are always out there for you.
She also sees a responsibility to give back to the community when you experience success. “I will always strive to support other engineers and entrepreneurs and uplift the growing life science and MedTech community in Oregon as much as I can,” Dreilinger says.
Produced by A.wordsmith for OEN
