Focusing on Liberate Medical, this session highlighted collaborative efforts to improve pulmonary care for SCI patients. Presenters discussed their non-invasive VentFree Muscle Stimulator, designed to prevent muscle atrophy and reduce ventilator dependency in adults requiring mechanical ventilation.
Presenters:
Euan McCaughey
Euan McCaughey (MEng, PhD, CEng) completed his PhD at the University of Glasgow in 2014, focusing on the use of Abdominal Functional Electrical Stimulation (Abdominal FES) to improve respiratory function after spinal cord injury. He subsequently worked at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, and Macquarie University, Sydney, before joining Neuroscience Research Australia in 2017. Euan developed his own lab in Sydney before returning to Glasgow where he now serves as the A/Director of Research for the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit.
Euan’s interest lie in undertaking clinical trials to prove the effectiveness of protocols or technologies designed to improve outcomes for those living with an illness or disability. He has a particular interest in the use of Abdominal Functional Electrical Stimulation (Abdominal FES) to improve respiratory and bowel function, especially for people living with a spinal cord injury. This technology has now been commercialised by Liberate Medical, with Euan working as a consultant for this company. His expertise in the area of spinal cord injury has seen him appointed to the Editorial Board of Spinal Cord, the leading dedicated spinal cord injuries journal.
Angus McLachlan
Dr. McLachlan co-founded Liberate Medical and has served as a member of its board of directors and its Chief Executive Officer since 2013. From 2014 to 2016, he also served as the Director for Device Integration and Strategy for Revon Systems. Dr. McLachlan completed his doctoral research on Liberate Medical’s proprietary electrical muscle stimulation technology and was responsible for the initial product development of VentFree and SecondBreath, which led to the technology being spun out of Apellis Pharmaceuticals. He is co-inventor on all of Liberate Medical’s patents and has authored several important publications in the field of abdominal functional electrical stimulation. Dr. McLachlan received his M.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering and his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Glasgow, Scotland.
Senen Pena, MD, MBA
Senen Pena, MD, MBA, is an experienced clinical research operations leader based in Louisville, Kentucky. Drawing from his diverse background as a practicing physician in Cuba and Venezuela, academic researcher, and industry professional, Senen brings over a decade of global expertise in managing innovative and successful clinical trials across the U.S., Europe, and Australia. As the Director of Clinical Operations at Liberate Medical, he is successfully leading the operational aspects of the PREVENT study, coordinating multi-country regulatory submissions, and implementing advanced digital tools to streamline trial processes. Passionate about translating rigorous scientific research into tangible healthcare solutions, Senen combines his clinical, academic, and business expertise to foster cross-functional collaboration and drive impactful outcomes.
