Precision Neuroscience Expands Leadership Team With Key Hires From Meta & FDA: Vanessa Tolosa Named Senior Vice President Of R&D and Vivek Pinto Appointed Director of Medical Affairs

Precision Neuroscience Corporation, a company at the forefront of brain–computer interface (BCI) technology, has announced the appointment of two senior leaders to support its expanding research, regulatory, and clinical operations. Vanessa Tolosa, PhD, a co-founder of Neuralink and expert in microfabricated neural implants, has joined as Senior Vice President of Research and Development. Vivek Pinto, PhD, MBA, former Division Director at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), has been appointed as Director of Medical Affairs.

Vanessa Tolosa is known for her contributions to the development of high-resolution, biocompatible neural interfaces. Her career began at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where she led work on flexible, polymer-based electrode arrays. At Neuralink, she served as Director of Neural Interfaces and was responsible for microfabrication, including electrode design and packaging. Most recently, she worked at Meta’s Reality Labs as a hardware research manager, leading efforts on EMG-based wearable technologies.

Tolosa said in a statement, “I’ve spent my career designing neural interfaces at the edge of what’s possible. Precision brings together technical ambition, clinical insight, and real-world focus. The team isn’t just building a device, they’re rethinking the entire concept of a BCI, including how it’s delivered surgically, which is essential for patient adoption. I’m honored to help bring this technology to people who need it.”

Pinto stated, “This role taps into everything I care about collaboration, education, and advancing technologies that make a difference for patients and clinicians. What drew me to Precision was the clarity of purpose: a focus on building something that’s innovative, feasible, and grounded in what patients and clinicians actually need. It’s a rare opportunity to help shape where the field is headed.”

Michael Mager, CEO and co-founder of Precision, commented, “We are thrilled about these hires. Vanessa is one of the most respected engineers working in neural implants today. Her expertise spans advanced materials, manufacturing, and system integration skills that are critical as we scale toward production. And with Vivek, we now have a senior medical leader who brings firsthand insight into how groundbreaking devices move from concept to clinical adoption. Together, they position us to make decisive progress toward our first clinical applications.”

Vivek Pinto brings over 20 years of experience in clinical research, product development, and regulatory science. At the FDA, he advanced from Lead Scientific Reviewer to Division Director, overseeing the regulation of various therapeutic and assistive technologies in neuromodulation and neuropsychiatry. 

At Precision, he will lead the medical affairs team, focusing on clinical evidence, medical communication, and supporting broader adoption of the company’s BCI technologies. These leadership additions follow significant technical progress at Precision, including the FDA 510(k) clearance earlier this year for the company’s Layer 7 Cortical Interface, which supports longer-term implantation of its neural interface devices.