About Us
ANI was established in 2006 to pursue medical applications of EEG technology originally developed by Quantum Applied Science & Research (QUASAR), Inc. (www.quasarusa.com) ANI holds full licenses to all applicable QUASAR technology, and benefits from QUASAR’s extensive experience in bioelectric hardware development and realization. ANI’s executive team (see below) brings together experience in medical hardware design, electrical engineering, signal processing, clinical EEG applications, business development and venture financing. Our goal is to pursue commercial medical applications of the EEG technology, collaborating with QUASAR to develop and customize instrumentation, and with leading researchers for market entry and expansion.
Our People
Eric Duff, MBA › CEO
Mr. Duff holds an MBA from Oxford University, UK, and technical degrees from Harvard and UCSD. Before joining ANI and QUASAR, Mr. Duff was Director of Business Development for InVision Technologies, where he was charged with leveraging the success of Fortune Magazine’s #1 Fastest Growing Company into a sustainable diversified entity. His business focus is built on 19 years of experience in science and engineering. Mr. Duff took over as CEO after completion of ANI’s seed round financing, organizing the subsequent development and testing of the first CortiFlex™ System.
Erik Viirre, MD › Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Viirre is a faculty member of the University of California, San Diego Department of Neurosciences and is a practicing clinician who has conducted extensive research and development work on advanced EEG technology. Dr. Viirre is experienced in the design and execution of studies and reporting to the FDA for regulatory approval of medical devices.
Charles Cho, MD › Member of the Board of Directors
Dr. Cho is a co-founder of ANI, a member of its Board of Directors, an Associate Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery at the Stanford University School of Medicine, and the head of Private Investments at Palo Alto Investors. He has been involved in the scientific development and financing of multiple device and biotechnology companies. His roles include supervising the regulatory process, writing 510(k) applications and reimbursement strategies, product life cycle management, strategic market planning and commercialization.
Andrew D. Hibbs, PhD › Chairman of the Board
Dr. Hibbs has a successful history of commercialization of new technology via investor or customer sponsorship, as exemplified by Quantum Magnetics (QM), a company that Dr. Hibbs co-founded and led. QM developed Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance, a completely new technology that had never been commercialized in any form, for detection of bombs in airline luggage. Under Dr. Hibbs’ leadership, QM went on to raise over $3 million of investment capital for product introduction. In three years QM grew from under 20 employees to over 70 and was named a commercialization success by the Federal Government. Dr. Hibbs currently serves as CEO of QUASAR and is guiding that company through the commercialization process.