Ryan D’arcy from NeuroCatch was interviewed by Roy Kessel of the Sports Philanthropy Network at Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans. During the conversation, D’arcy discussed the rapid advancements in brain health and cognitive performance, emphasizing how technologies like NeuroCatch can enhance reaction time and decision-making for athletes. He highlighted the importance of optimizing brain function alongside physical training to improve performance and reduce risks related to concussions and mental health.
Ryan D'arcy
Dr. Ryan C.N. D’Arcy, Ph.D., PlEng, is a distinguished neuroscientist and entrepreneur, who specializes in advancing brain technology. Dr. D’Arcy co-founded HealthTech Connex (2013) and serves as President and Chief Scientific Officer. HealthTech Connex has developed the NeuroCatch Platform, a portable brain scanner, and operates the Centre for Neurology Studies (clinical trials) and the Surrey Neuroplasticity Clinic (neurorehabilitation).
Dr. D’Arcy is known for the development of the brain vital signs framework, detection of functional activity in human white matter, pushing the limits of neuroplasticity in war fighter recovery from severe traumatic brain injury, and the development of virtual simulators for neurosurgery. He is the chief inventor of the NeuroCatch Platform, which is used across a wide range of leading hospitals/universities, athletic organization, tech companies, and military/veteran organizations across the USA and worldwide.
Dr. D’Arcy holds prestigious professorship appointments at Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia, where he serves as a BC Leadership Chair in neuroimaging and neurotechnology. He has published over 300 academic works and attracted over $100M in research an innovation funding for brain and health technology advancement. Throughout his career, Dr. D’Arcy has been honored with numerous awards and distinctions, including the Public Service Award of Excellence, 3-time BC500 Influential Business Leader, and National Research Council’s Research Breakthrough of the Year Award. Dr. D’Arcy frequently speaks on brain health innovations around the globe and is a 3-time TEDx speaker.
Dr. D’Arcy received a B.Sc. (with distinction) from the University of Victoria along with both M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in neuroscience from Dalhousie University (Killam Scholar). He completed post-doctoral training in medical imaging physics at the National Research Council (NRC), Institute for Biodiagnostics and holds a professional engineering designation in neuroimaging and neurotechnology (PlEng). While with NRC, he spent over a decade leading the initial development of Atlantic Canada’s biomedical imaging cluster before returning home to Vancouver in 2012 to catalyze and co-lead the development of BC’s multi-billion-dollar Health and Technology District.
NEUROCATCH
NeuroCatch Inc. is a medical device company passionate about improving brain health. Based on science and research, the company is focused on translating leading neuroscience research and scientific innovation into real-world, accessible medical devices. The flagship product, the NeuroCatch® Platform, is a medical device that offers an objective evaluation of cognitive function, delivered in minutes at the point of care.
Watch the Interview Here
– (00:02) Introduction – Roy Kessel introduces Ryan Darcy from NeuroCatch at Super Bowl 59, discussing his participation in the Brain Health Summit at Lee Steinberg’s event.
– (01:05) Advances in Brain Health – Darcy explains how brain science is rapidly evolving, enabling better performance optimization and mental health care.
– (01:38) Connection Between Mental and Physical Health – Discussion on how mental health, brain health, and physical performance are interconnected, especially in high-performance environments like sports.
– (02:42) Enhancing Cognitive Performance – Darcy describes how improving brain processing speed by even 50-100 milliseconds can provide a competitive edge in sports, military, and business.
– (04:20) Measuring and Optimizing Brain Function – Introduction of NeuroCatch, a cognitive brain scanner that objectively measures brain processing speed to optimize performance.
– (05:51) Training the Brain Like a Muscle – How technology, including virtual reality and brain training exercises, can help athletes develop pattern recognition and faster decision-making skills from an early age.
– (06:53) The Role of Sleep and Recovery – Emphasis on how sleep impacts cognitive performance and why prioritizing rest is essential for peak brain function.
– (08:24) Beyond Caffeine: Ways to Boost Cognitive Speed – Discussion on various methods, including diet, exercise, and high-tech solutions, to enhance and stabilize brain processing speed.
– (10:31) Accessibility and Cost of NeuroCatch – Darcy explains how NeuroCatch is designed as an affordable, rapid, and objective tool for brain health, making it useful in sports, military, and medical settings.
– (12:41) Mission to Improve Brain Health – Darcy shares his vision of optimizing human brain potential to enhance both athletic performance and broader problem-solving capabilities worldwide.
