Meike Sieburg

Danish medtech startup developing a non-invasive neuromodulation wearable for cluster headache prevention. Small team with international collaborations across clinicians, researchers, and patient groups. Led R&D, funding, and partnerships across scientific, clinical, and business areas, combining project management with hands-on development and stakeholder engagement. Key achievements: • Advanced neuromodulation device from concept to early development, including clinical and technical validation steps • Secured €220,000 in innovation funding to drive R&D and business development • Built collaborations with clinicians, researchers, investors, and patient communities • Supported IP and regulatory strategy to protect innovation and prepare for compliance • Gained thorough insight into Danish and EU life science ecosystem part of: Biomedical Design Program 2022-2023 (Novo Nordisk Foundation), Danish Tech Challenge 2023 (DTU Science Park), Clusterbusters meeting 2023 & 2024 (Orlando, FL and Glasgow, UK), Women in Tech 2024 (Tech Nordic Advocates), Future Manufacturers 2024 (MADE), Innofounder 2024 (Innovationsfonden), Launch 2024 Accelerace), Medtech Growth 2025 (DTU Science Park), Entrepreneur in residence (KU Lighthouse)

Danish company supporting MedTech and BioTech teams with regulatory, clinical, and design strategy and documentation. Drove co-creation of scientific documentation to drive strategic and clinical decision-making.

• Planned crew centers for music festivals: logistics, volunteer shift plan, location, equipment, etc Volunteer work

Volunteer-led organization reducing food waste. Key contributions: • Led teams in redistribution of surplus food to reduce food waste • Communicated mission at outreach events

Engaged diverse audiences and explained neuroscience research in accessible language to raise awareness of brain research and career paths in STEM. Key contributions: • Supported outreach activities at universities • Spoke at career events for students and researchers in STEM • Participated in "Book a Researcher" scheme in Danish Science Festival, allowing broader audiences to hear about selected topics (talk title "Psychoactive substances - old curse or new blessing?")

International 10-month fellowship programme in healthtech innovation run across Danish universities, focused on patient-centred, needs-driven development. Completed clinical immersion, identified unmet needs, and developed early-stage healthtech concepts using design thinking principles. Applied business, IP, and regulatory frameworks to assess feasibility. Key achievements: • Conducted patient and clinician interviews to identify unmet clinical needs • Designed and tested prototypes with user input to evaluate usability and value • Applied market, regulatory, and business analysis to select viable development paths • Spin-out startup founded (nervapax)

International peer-reviewed journal publishing original research in neuroscience. Reviewed manuscripts on a voluntary basis, providing critical feedback on study design, methods, and interpretation. Key contributions: • Evaluated scientific quality and clarity of submissions • Provided constructive recommendations to improve research communication • Supported editorial standards by ensuring methodological transparency

Danish neuroscience research centre with international collaborations. Laboratory of Prof. Marco Capogna (Biomedicine). Planned and executed in vivo and in vitro experiments in mouse models to investigate amygdala interneurons. Managed projects from design, execution, analysis, and interpretation to publication, supervised students, and contributed to grant writing and lab development. Key achievements: • Discovered a novel firing pattern of amygdala neurogliaform cells and explored its role in feeding and fear behaviour • Established a new cellular marker and methodology, enabling future studies of inhibitory circuits • Published peer-reviewed article and presented findings at conferences • Contributed to collaborative grant proposals and development of lab resources • Collaborated with Prof. Konstantin Khodosevich (BRIC, KU) in a project on the role of neurogliaform cells in a murine schizophrenia model

Taught and supervised students in neuroscience, psychology, and biology modules. Key contributions: • Organized and delivered seminars and workshops in psychobiology, neuroscience, molecular biology, behavioral science, and physiology • Supervised student projects in the lab • Conducted student assessment and provided structured feedback • Gained Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education by Higher Education Academy

Elected and voluntary representation of students and early-career researchers across three universities. Advocated for peers in academic decision-making and organized social and professional development activities. Key contributions: • Represented researcher interests in university committees and meetings • Organized workshops, seminars, and career panels to support peers • Coordinated scientific and social events that strengthened research communities

Intensive two week course at Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Dept. Drug Design and Pharmacology, Dr. Anders Bach Small molecules & biologics; target, hit & lead identification, non-clinical & clinical dev., (pre)formulation, QA/QC, regulatory, GMP, drug production, IP, marketing/market access Learning outcomes: Knowledge - give a comprehensive overview of major steps and elements - identify correct professional terms - outline definitions of key concepts and the fundamentals of the major disciplines - identify the important transition points that require involvement of authorities Skills - appraise the integration of the various disciplines - analyze the sequence and flow of the various steps - plan a development process within the regulatory framework Competencies - liaise with all steps of drug discovery and development - identify critical factors and bottlenecks - promote and state progress milestones - communicate professionally with the various specialist groups

Research university with international collaborations in neuroscience and psychology (lab Dr. Eisuke Koya and Dr. Hans Crombag) Conducted independent doctoral research on neuronal ensembles in the nucleus accumbens. Designed, executed, and analyzed behavioral and neurophysiological experiments in murine models. Key contributions: • Characterized cellular substrates of appetitive conditioning and devaluation • Established and published a novel devaluation methodology • Published peer-reviewed articles in leading neuroscience journals • Presented findings at international conferences and summer schools • Contributed to collaborative projects: structural differences in synesthesia using MRI scans; excitability of cocaine-cue associated ensembles; effects of environmental enrichment

Studies and research project at Institute of Molecular Psychiatry (lab Prof. Dr. Andreas Zimmer). Studied the role of dynorphin in obesity using mouse models of high-fat diet induced obesity. Key contributions: • Conducted molecular and behavioral experiments to assess synaptic plasticity in obesity • Conducted data analysis, literature research, data presentation • Gained experience in international collaboration and laboratory exchange (internship lab Prof. Dr. Rafael Maldonado) • Produced thesis that contributed to ongoing research on endogenous opioid peptides • Contributed to published peer-reviewed article

Investigated synaptopodin expression in hippocampal dendritic spines and the influence of synaptic activity (Institute of Neuroanatomy, UKE, Dr. Gabriele Rune). Key contributions: • Performed histological and molecular analyses in hippocampal slice cultures • Quantified changes in synaptic spines after cLTP • Developed research skills in neuroanatomy and international collaboration (Erasmus)