Mr. William ‘Van’ Harrison, Company Founder, began developing the concept for an implantable neurostimulation device to treat tinnitus. Mr. Harrison is a serial entrepreneur with a distinguished career in the medical technology field. His research into tinnitus led him to reconnect with a former associate, Jay T. Rubinstein, MD, PhD, whose prior research at the University of Iowa resulted in several issued patents. With their background developing and implanting intracochlear devices, Mr. Harrison and Dr. Rubinstein believed that a Company could be formed to develop an effective therapeutic neural stimulator that could deliver an electrical signal to the auditory nerve, implanted with a surgical approach similar to a cochlear implant, which would suppress tinnitus without disturbing normal auditory function. The company was founded in 2008 with the addition of the remaining founding team: Michael Langhout, Dorcas Kessler, MA, and Chris Zobkiw.
Since its founding, Silere has developed its technology, intellectual property, key partnerships and advisory network. The company has developed proprietary solutions for safe delivery of therapeutic electrical stimulation for tinnitus reduction without compromising hearing function and performance.
Silere Medical has been funded by its founders, combined with a Qualified Therapeutic Tax Credit from the Department of Health and Human Services through its early stages of product development. The Company is seeking equity capital, as well as grant funding from various governmental agencies.
Additional equity funding and / or non-dilutive grant funding will be used to continue the design, fabrication, and clinical validation of its implantable therapeutic electrical neural stimulation device to suppress chronic tinnitus.