RebrAIn: When Artificial Intelligence Guides Neurosurgery
In neurosurgery, innovation emerges closest to patients, at the heart of hospitals and public research laboratories. Rebrain is a prime example of this dynamic.
Founded on research conducted at Bordeaux University Hospital (CHU de Bordeaux), the University of Bordeaux, and Inria, the startup aims to transform a critical step in neurological surgery: identifying the precise brain regions to target for treatment. Its technology supports procedures such as deep brain stimulation and lesion-based therapies, including MRI-guided focused ultrasound and radiosurgery, which are essential in the treatment of major neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor.
From the Operating Room to Research: A Decisive Encounter
The story began in the operating room. Treating patients suffering from severe neurodegenerative disorders, Professor Emmanuel Cuny, Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Bordeaux and a leading neurosurgeon at Bordeaux University Hospital (CHU de Bordeaux), was confronted with a major limitation of deep brain stimulation (DBS) (see sidebar). While highly effective, DBS remains a complex and lengthy procedure that is still not widely accessible. Success depends on one critical factor: the precision of brain targeting. An error of just a few millimeters can have a significant impact on clinical outcomes.
At the same time, at Inria Bordeaux – Sud-Ouest, Nejib Zemzemi, a specialist in applied mathematics and scientific computing, was developing mathematical models capable of solving complex healthcare challenges. Their meeting in 2015 marked the beginning of a shared ambition: to harness medical imaging data to determine, even before surgery, the optimal brain target for each individual patient.
Behind this vision lies a major public health challenge. Worldwide, more than 6.3 million people live with Parkinson’s disease, while approximately 39 million people are affected by essential tremor. Yet fewer than 3% of eligible patients currently benefit from deep brain stimulation. Procedures remain demanding and are still largely dependent on techniques that require the patient’s active participation during surgery.
Emmanuel Cuny: Co-founder, CMO & Board President - Nejib Zemzemi: Co-founder, CSO & CTO - David Caumartin: CEO
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is an invasive medical treatment that involves the surgical implantation of electrodes in the brain. These electrodes are connected to a pulse generator placed under the skin, which delivers low-intensity electrical stimulation to specific deep brain structures. The targeted brain regions vary depending on the condition being treated. DBS is primarily used for neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, and dystonia. More rarely, it may also be used to treat severe psychiatric conditions that have not responded to conventional therapies, including certain forms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and major depression.
> Example of a patient with essential tremor treated with DBS
Turning Research into a Clinical Solution
To address the limitations of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), the two researchers decided to combine their expertise and develop a technology capable of identifying the optimal brain targets directly from a patient’s MRI scan.
Several years of research followed, focusing on the development of supervised metamodels, the use of clinical data, and the validation of software initially known as OptimDBS. After more than ten years of scientific work, proof of concept was successfully demonstrated. The next challenge was a crucial one: transforming this scientific breakthrough into a tangible clinical innovation.
In 2018, Inria invested €100,000 to develop a first version suitable for clinical use. From 2020 onwards, SATT Aquitaine became fully involved in the project, investing €226,000 to support its technological and clinical maturation, protect its intellectual property (one patent), and guide its transfer strategy through the creation of a startup. Thanks to this support, the project evolved from academic research into a market-ready innovation.
On January 4, 2021, Rebrain was officially founded by Emmanuel Cuny and Nejib Zemzemi. At the same time, the startup signed an exclusive licensing agreement with SATT Aquitaine, formalizing the transfer of the research results to the marketplace. The company's early efforts focused on structuring its technology offering and preparing the first stages of its development. That same year, Rebrain received recognition through the prestigious i-Lab Innovation Competition, further validating the potential of its technology.
OptimDBS: AI Supporting Surgical Precision
At the heart of Rebrain’s solution is OptimDBS, a cloud-based platform powered by artificial intelligence. The software automatically analyzes MRI scans, identifies the most appropriate brain targets, and provides personalized surgical planning for each patient.
This innovation is transforming clinical practice by reducing procedure times, improving patient outcomes and quality of life, standardizing targeting strategies across centers, lowering healthcare costs, and enabling more patients to benefit from advanced neurological treatments.
Several hundred patients have already been treated using the technology, demonstrating its potential to make deep brain stimulation and other functional neurosurgical procedures safer, more efficient, and more accessible.
Rapid Growth and Global Expansion
In just a few years, Rebrain has reached several major milestones. Its solution has obtained CE marking and regulatory clearances in the United States, and is now being deployed in more than 60 centers worldwide, with over 1,200 target planning procedures already performed. In 2023, the startup was also recognized through France’s i-Nov Innovation Competition, further validating the relevance and potential of its approach. In 2024, Rebrain secured €3.7 million in funding to accelerate its international expansion. The founders’ ambition is clear: “To become the global leader in deep brain stimulation targeting by making these procedures more accessible, safer, and more effective.”
Following this funding round, Rebrain entered a new phase of scaling and organizational growth. The company expanded its team, recruited experienced industry professionals, and accelerated the deployment of its technology across an increasing number of clinical centers, particularly internationally. It has also strengthened its presence in the United States, a strategic market for its future development. At the same time, clinical research continues, enabling ongoing improvements to the precision of its algorithms and generating evidence of the solution’s clinical and economic benefits.
Today, Rebrain is broadening its horizons by exploring new therapeutic applications, including epilepsy, addiction, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The company is also investigating how its technology can be integrated with other treatment modalities, such as focused ultrasound and radiosurgery.
A story worth following… closely.
Key Milestones in Rebrain’s Journey
2015
/ Meeting between Emmanuel Cuny, Professor of Neurosurgery at Bordeaux University Hospital (CHU de Bordeaux), and Nejib Zemzemi, Inria researcher.
/ Launch of research activities focused on MRI-based brain targeting.
2018
/ First funding from Inria: €100,000 to develop an operational version of the OptimDBS software.
/ Development of the first software building blocks and progress toward clinical application.
2020
/ SATT Aquitaine commits to the maturation of the project, investing €226,000 to support technical and clinical proof of concept.
/ Structuring and protection of the project's intellectual property, including patents and software assets.
2021
/ Official creation of Rebrain on January 4, founded by Emmanuel Cuny and Nejib Zemzemi.
/ Signature of an exclusive licensing agreement with SATT Aquitaine.
/ Winner of the i-Lab Innovation Competition.
2022–2023
/ Continued development and refinement of the OptimDBS platform.
/ Progressive clinical validation and expansion of patient data resources.
/ Structuring of the commercial offering and establishment of initial hospital partnerships.
/ Winner of the i-Nov Innovation Competition.
2024
/ Successful €3.7 million funding round to accelerate international expansion.
/ Strengthening of the team and scaling of organizational capabilities.
2025–2026
/ Deployment in more than 60 clinical centers worldwide.
/ More than 1,000 procedures planned using the solution.
/ Acceleration of international expansion across Europe and the United States.
/ Launch of the company's Series A financing round.
