Driving innovation in medication-free migraine prevention at Nordic Brain Tech

When Jenny Nesje joined Nordic Brain Tech (NBT), she set out to demonstrate that advanced medical technology for migraine care could be developed and clinically validated in Norway.

Today, as Quality Manager at NBT, she has been recognized as one of Norway's 50 Leading Women in Tech. This recognition comes on the eve of International Women's Day, a day dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women across industries. For Jenny, this honor holds special meaning:

"It is a great honor to receive this award. It makes me very proud, and humble at the same time," she says. "From the start, my motivation has been to help people with migraine have a better quality of life by using my knowledge and experience to develop a medication-free treatment option that's safe and clinically validated. Achieving that requires a team of dedicated colleagues, and we're very lucky to have that here at Nordic Brain Tech."

A New Approach to Migraine Care

At the core of Jenny's work is a home-based biofeedback device designed to prevent migraine attacks without medication. As one of the first treatments of its kind to enter clinical trials for migraine prevention, it has the potential to transform how patients manage a condition that disproportionately affects women so much that it's the leading cause of sick leave and time away from work for women between 18-50.

"It's inspiring to work toward a shared goal that can help solve a major societal problem," Jenny explains. "Developing medical devices that involve both software and hardware is a long, complex process. It requires collaboration across a range of fields, such as electronics, mechanics, neurology, medicine, design, information security, programming, and business development."

Realizing such an advanced technology also depends on strong alliances. Thorgate and Togethertech have been key partners in developing and refining the software and hardware that power NBT's biofeedback device. Their expertise, combined with NBT's vision, forms a solid foundation for bringing this medication-free solution to market.

Clinical Validation and Teamwork

Jenny has led quality assurance for the BioCer clinical study, a collaboration among Nordic Brain Tech, NTNU, St. Olav's Hospital, Akershus University Hospital, Haukeland Hospital, and the University of North Norway in Tromsø. The study aims to provide solid evidence of the device's effectiveness in preventing migraine episodes. Staying focused on top priorities has been both challenging and rewarding:

"One of the biggest challenges is juggling different projects and staying focused on what truly matters when resources are limited. Luckily, we remind each other to be practical and ask for help before we get lost in the details. I'm proud to be part of such a committed and close-knit team, and I'm looking forward to a few hectic months as we finalize this phase of our journey." Now that the device is clinically validated, the final steps include certification and preparing for production: "Our goal is to make this preventive treatment available as soon as possible," Jenny explains.

Driving Medtech Innovation in Norway

Jenny's recognition as one of Norway's 50 Leading Women in Tech highlights her personal achievements and underscores the country's potential in medtech innovation. Although strict regulatory requirements can seem daunting for startups, Jenny and the NBT team have shown that high standards and clinical success is achievable with the right people."It's an exciting, varied, and meaningful job," she says. "We're proving that Norwegian companies can excel in this field, and I hope it encourages more women, and more people in general, to join in solving major healthcare challenges."

Looking Ahead

As Nordic Brain Tech moves closer to delivering a certified, medication-free migraine prevention solution, Jenny remains focused on a broader vision: improving the lives of those who experience migraine attacks around the world."We're fortunate to have a mission everyone here believes in," she says. "Our combined efforts and expertise is helping address a significant health issue, and that's what motivates me every day."