OPM directs FEHB carriers to favor prevention and non‑drug care for 2027; seeks monthly claims data

OPM told federal health insurers to emphasize prevention, non‑pharmaceutical care and digital therapeutics for plan year 2027, and asked carriers for monthly claims reports that could include identifiable data. The move follows sharp premium increases in 2026 and has drawn privacy concerns from employee groups.

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Insellar raises €400,000 to develop BCI for treatment‑resistant depression

Berlin startup Insellar has secured €400,000 in pre‑seed funding from IBB Ventures and angels to develop a patent‑protected brain‑computer interface for treatment‑resistant depression and to build a functional prototype ahead of preclinical validation.

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What It’s Like to Live With an Experimental Brain Implant

Recipients of experimental brain implants report restored speech and robotic control but highlight practical limits: wired lab systems, decoder recalibration, surgical risks and short trial windows.

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Martial arts shifts to data-driven training to extend competitive longevity

Coaches and consultants say martial arts gyms and elite fighters are adopting HRV monitoring, biometric tracking and periodized training to prioritize technical repetition and extend competitive careers, increasing demand for specialized rehab and legal services.

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Tab wearable: web app and backend capture transcripts; Raspberry Pi prototype failed to connect

Tab's developers published a working Next.js app and Supabase backend that store Whisper transcripts, but their Raspberry Pi Zero W prototype could not maintain a Wi‑Fi connection; the team used a Python recorder to validate transcripts and chat queries.

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Dancer with ALS pilots mixed‑reality avatar on Amsterdam stage via EEG

Breanna Olson, who has ALS, used an EEG headset from Dentsu Lab and NTT to control a mixed‑reality avatar live on stage in Amsterdam in December. The Waves of Will project tests non‑invasive brain–computer control to restore personal expression for people with motor‑degenerative conditions.

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Men's Journal names Somnee Smart Sleep Headband its top active sleep tracker after hands-on testing

Men’s Journal tested sleep wearables and named the Somnee Smart Sleep Headband its top active sleep tracker on Apr 7, 2026, citing EEG-based tracking and pre‑bed neurostimulation but noting comfort and data‑reliability issues.

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MIT.nano adds 16 startups to START.nano in 2025, expanding its hard‑tech cohort

MIT.nano enrolled 16 startups into its START.nano program in 2025, expanding the accelerator to more than 32 companies. The cohort spans health, semiconductors, quantum hardware and includes Cahira Technologies, a developer of nonsurgical neural implants.

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AlphaRise neurofeedback game aims to help people with MS manage fatigue

A poster at Cedars-Sinai’s vMed described AlphaRise, a 2D EEG-based neurofeedback game for people with MS that classifies five brain states, runs 5-minute sessions, and includes a Compassionate Mode to accommodate fatigue.

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Burgenland startup Mindset Technologies announces system to monitor pilots' cognitive load

Mindset Technologies, founded in 2024 in Burgenland, announced on 7 April 2026 its Enhanced Pilot Performance System (EPPS), a wearable neurotech device that measures pilots' cognitive load in real time. The company said it won a Defence Conference hackathon and was supported by the Wirtschaftsagentur Burgenland incubator.

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Connectome Health Raises $2M Pre-seed to Build Longitudinal Cognitive Monitoring Platform

Zurich NeuroTech startup Connectome Health raised $2 million pre-seed to build a longitudinal platform that creates personalised cognitive baselines, applying methods from Imperial College London’s LUCID study and linking neural signals to sleep and activity.

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Finnish neurotech Audicin raises $1.9M to expand app, headband and SDK

Finnish neurotech Audicin raised $1.9M, taking its total to about $3M, to expand its audio-based app, sleep headband and a lightweight SDK for embedding nervous-system regulation into other platforms.

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Epia Neuro launches implanted BCI and grip-assist system for stroke survivors

Epia Neuro announced an implanted read/write BCI platform for stroke survivors that pairs a skull-mounted device with AI and a grip-assist prosthetic; first-in-human demonstrations are planned for later in 2026 at Lenox Hill Hospital.

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New wearable detects fatigue using AI and advanced sensors

Developers unveiled a wearable that they say uses machine learning and advanced sensors to generate a real-time fatigue score. Public validation data and regulatory status were not disclosed, so independent review is still needed.

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Chinese BCI startup StairMed closes $72.8M financing led by Alibaba

Shanghai-based StairMed closed RMB 500 million (~$72.8M) in a round led by Alibaba with participation from Tencent and other investors, bringing the company’s funding to over RMB 1.1 billion in the past year and targeting mid-2026 large-scale clinical development.

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Whoop raises $575 million at $10.1 billion valuation

Whoop raised $575 million at a $10.1 billion valuation in a round led by Collaborative Fund, with participation from the Qatar Investment Authority and athletes LeBron James and Cristiano Ronaldo. The company makes a 24/7 wristband that tracks HRV, blood pressure and blood oxygen and has shifted from an elite-athlete focus toward broader consumer health.

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