Surf Therapeutics: Calming Inflammation Through Neuromodulation

At the LSX World Congress in Boston, MedTech Spotlight Live by Orthogonal featured another conversation with a leader advancing medical technology. Orthogonal’s Randy Horton spoke with Nishant Doctor , Founder and CEO of Surf Therapeutics , about the company’s ultrasound-based neuromodulation platform that aims to calm inflammation by engaging the body’s autonomic nervous system.

Their discussion explored how Surf Therapeutics views inflammation as a root cause of chronic disease, how it balances hardware and digital development, and how it plans for innovation in a rapidly evolving field.

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Calming Inflammation at Its Source

Surf Therapeutics is developing a noninvasive ultrasound neuromodulation platform that interacts with the sympathetic nervous system to regulate the immune response. The goal is to reduce inflammation naturally, without reliance on pharmaceuticals.

Inflammation, as Nishant explained, is the underlying factor in a wide range of diseases, from autoimmune and cardiovascular to neurological and metabolic disorders. By working with the body’s own regulatory systems, Surf Therapeutics aims to restore balance rather than mask symptoms.

From Engineer to Founder

With a background in electrical engineering and nearly 18 years in medical device innovation, Nishant has spent much of his career in neurotechnology and neuromodulation.

His first company developed vagus nerve stimulation for depression and epilepsy, an area that has grown substantially in recent years. After experience spanning R&D, clinical, and commercial roles, he launched Surf Therapeutics in 2020, inspired by the opportunity to create therapies that directly engage the body’s nervous and immune systems.

The Digital Component

Although Surf Therapeutics’ therapy is rooted in hardware, it incorporates a digital feedback system that connects patients, clinicians, and data.

The at-home device delivers daily therapeutic acoustic energy, while its digital layer tracks how often patients use it, how long each session lasts, and whether symptoms improve. This feedback is crucial for physicians who need insight into both compliance and outcomes.

Initially, the company plans to build its own digital platform, ensuring that data can later be integrated with electronic health records (EHRs) to fit seamlessly into existing care systems.

Planning for Growth: The Rolling Five-Year Model

Surf Therapeutics’ product strategy follows a rolling five-year planning cycle. The team looks ahead to define which capabilities will be essential, builds those into the current generation of devices, and then extends the horizon as technology evolves.

This approach allows the hardware to support future software enhancements, similar to how Tesla enables over-the-air updates without requiring replacement. The key challenge, Nishant noted, is maintaining that forward vision without derailing commercialization timelines.

Investor Expectations and AI

When discussing digital strategy with investors, Nishant observed that many venture capital firms now expect an AI component. Some even limit their portfolios to AI-driven companies.

Surf Therapeutics does have AI on its roadmap, but not in the near term. The focus over the next five years remains on ensuring the core therapeutic works. Looking further ahead, AI could help identify biological markers, target therapy more precisely, and analyze patient feedback to confirm the device’s impact.

The goal, he emphasized, is to stay ready for integration when the time is right, rather than chasing trends prematurely.

Staying Close to Innovation

A comment from Nvidia’s Jensen Huang resonated strongly with Nishant: companies don’t have to do everything, they just need to stay close to the tree so that when the apple falls, they’re among the first to catch it.

Surf Therapeutics applies that mindset by tracking emerging technologies in AI and medical devices. The aim is to be prepared to integrate advancements quickly while keeping attention on current development priorities.

From Monitoring to Intervention

Nishant also pointed to a broader pattern in medical technology: many new devices focus on monitoring biomarkers such as glucose or inflammatory proteins but offer no therapeutic solution once a problem is identified.

Surf Therapeutics seeks to address that gap. “All these biomarkers are measuring inflammation in your body in a way,” he said. “What we’re working on is calming that inflammation.”

Instead of stopping at detection, the company is developing a device that acts on what the data reveals, a direct intervention rather than another monitoring tool.

A Field Coming Into Its Own

Neuromodulation has evolved dramatically over the past 15 years. What was once a small field now includes thousands of companies, as well as major technology entrants.

Nishant mentioned examples such as Nudge, founded by the creator of Coinbase, and Merge Labs, led by Sam Altman, both of which explore ultrasound neuromodulation of the brain. While Surf Therapeutics focuses on peripheral neuromodulation, it benefits from the same surge of innovation. “It’s growing,” he said, “and it’s a good time to be in it right now.”

Looking Ahead

Surf Therapeutics remains in early development, but its mission is clear: to use ultrasound to calm inflammation and help restore physiological balance.

The science is still young, but the promise is strong. As Nishant put it, the work is “early but fascinating,” and the company is eager to see where the next phase of discovery will lead.

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