Forest Neurotech - Bryant McGill

# Forest Neurotech **Entity class:** Nonprofit neurotechnology organization **Collection:** [[collections/Neurotech|Neurotech]] **Current name:** [[wiki/Arbor Neuroscience|Arbor Neuroscience]] **Canonical source article:** [[articles/Technologies for Consciousness Mapping and Transfer|Technologies for Consciousness Mapping and Transfer]] ## Definition **Forest Neurotech** was the 2023–2026 name of the nonprofit Focused Research Organization now called [[wiki/Arbor Neuroscience|Arbor Neuroscience]]. Sumner Norman, Tyson Aflalo, and Will Biederman founded it to develop less-invasive ultrasound interfaces for measuring and modulating activity across large brain volumes. Its Forest 1 platform combines Butterfly Network’s ultrasound-on-chip hardware with functional ultrasound imaging and a software-controlled acquisition and targeting stack. ## Provenance and Development Convergent Research incubated Forest as a mission-scoped nonprofit. Public supporters include Eric and Wendy Schmidt, Griffin Catalyst, the Riley & Susan Bechtel Foundation, James Fickel, and an anonymous donor; Butterfly Network entered a five-year co-development agreement for the ultrasound hardware line. In September 2026 the organization adopted the Arbor Neuroscience name, placed Philip Sabes in the CEO role, and refocused the program on longitudinal intervention-response data and predictive neuromodulation while retaining Forest 1 as its starting platform. ## Applications in Use An ARIA-funded study with Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Plymouth is testing Forest 1 in people with craniectomies or sonolucent cranial implants. The study measures brain activity with functional ultrasound and develops a path toward closed-loop neuromodulation; the first studies are underway under the Arbor name. ## Forward Capability The platform is moving from brain-wide measurement toward **bidirectional intervention with response readout**. Its governing variables are imaging depth, spatial and temporal resolution, modulation reliability, and the duration over which the same participant can be measured repeatedly. The maximum supported implementation is a model-guided loop that selects a circuit target, delivers focused ultrasound, observes the whole-brain response, and uses that response to choose the next intervention. ## Open Questions The organizational relationship to [[wiki/Merge Labs|Merge Labs]] is a personnel and technical-lineage edge through Norman and Aflalo. Corporate ownership, patent transfer, and continuing operational roles require direct company records or nonprofit filings for resolution. ## Sources - [Arbor Neuroscience — Forest Neurotech name change and current leadership](https://www.arborneuroscience.org/about.html) - [Arbor Neuroscience — Forest 1 technology](https://www.arborneuroscience.org/technology.html) - [ARIA — Forest 1 clinical research program](https://aria.org.uk/insights/funding-world-leading-research-into-new-neurotechnologies) ## Relationships  This entry is routed through [[collections/Neurotech|Neurotech]], [[collections/Consciousness Continuity|Consciousness Continuity]], and [[collections/War With Empire|War With Empire]]. Its source context is developed in [[articles/Technologies for Consciousness Mapping and Transfer|Technologies for Consciousness Mapping and Transfer]], [[articles/The Next Interface Layer|The Next Interface Layer]], [[articles/The Architecture of Continuity and Emerging Neuroinformatics Standards|The Architecture of Continuity and Emerging Neuroinformatics Standards]], and [[articles/2026 Annual Report on Brain-Computer Interfaces|2026 Annual Report on Brain-Computer Interfaces]]. Status-qualified source edges are preserved in the terminal Research Edges section. ### People and institutional relationships - **Forest Neurotech** is associated with 2023. - **Forest Neurotech** was co-founded by [[wiki/Sumner Norman|Sumner Norman]]. - **Forest Neurotech** was co-founded by [[wiki/Tyson Aflalo|Tyson Aflalo]]. - **Forest Neurotech** was co-founded by [[wiki/Will Biederman|Will Biederman]]. - **Forest Neurotech** serves or served as an advisor to [[wiki/Mikhail Shapiro|Mikhail Shapiro]]. Pre-existing personnel bridge into Merge Labs. - **Forest Neurotech** serves or served as an advisor to [[wiki/Wojciech Zaremba|Wojciech Zaremba]]. OpenAI co-founder; demonstrates an OpenAI-network adjacency before Merge financing, not an OpenAI corporate investment in Forest. - **Forest Neurotech** serves or served as an advisor to [[wiki/Frank Fischer|Frank Fischer]]. Founder of NeuroPace; clinical neuromodulation bridge. - **Forest Neurotech** was founded by [[wiki/Sumner Norman|Sumner Norman]]. - **Forest Neurotech** was founded by [[wiki/Tyson Aflalo|Tyson Aflalo]]. - **Forest Neurotech** was founded by [[wiki/Will Biederman|Will Biederman]]. - [[wiki/Merge Labs|Merge Labs]] is associated with **Forest Neurotech**. ### Key Relationships - **Forest Neurotech** is associated with [[wiki/Focused Research Organization (FRO)|Focused Research Organization (FRO)]]. Mission-scoped nonprofit R&D structure. - **Forest Neurotech** was incubated by [[wiki/Convergent Research|Convergent Research]]. - **Forest Neurotech** is associated with [[wiki/WO2025007077A9|WO2025007077A9]]. Ultrasound-based nervous-system imaging/modulation system and methods. - **Forest Neurotech** is associated with [[wiki/Arbor Neuroscience|Arbor Neuroscience]]. Current 2026 identity; historical Forest remains a necessary alias/source node. - **Forest Neurotech** is associated with [[wiki/Focused Research Organization|Focused Research Organization]]. - **Forest Neurotech** is part of [[wiki/Convergent Research|Convergent Research]]. ### Funding, business, and licensing - **Forest Neurotech** received funding from [[wiki/Eric and Wendy Schmidt|Eric and Wendy Schmidt]]. Historical philanthropic support. - **Forest Neurotech** received funding from [[wiki/Griffin Catalyst|Griffin Catalyst]]. - **Forest Neurotech** received funding from [[wiki/Riley & Susan Bechtel Foundation|Riley & Susan Bechtel Foundation]]. - **Forest Neurotech** received funding from [[wiki/James Fickel|James Fickel]]. - **Forest Neurotech** is associated with 20 million USD with Butterfly across licensing/chips/services/milestones. Historical agreement terms as publicly announced. ### Technology and research relationships - **Forest Neurotech** is associated with [[wiki/Butterfly Network|Butterfly Network]]. Agreement predates Merge and establishes direct Ultrasound-on-Chip lineage. - **Forest Neurotech** has a documented research lineage leading to [[wiki/Merge Labs|Merge Labs]]. Convergent/Essential Technology announcement states Merge team and direction have roots in Forest and the organizations will continue to partner.  ## Related Work in the Corpus  - In [[articles/Technologies for Consciousness Mapping and Transfer|Technologies for Consciousness Mapping and Transfer]], **IX. The escape from the electrode** provides the narrative context for **Forest Neurotech**: The cleanest lineage in the ecosystem runs from Rice and Jacob Robinson through N3's MOANA — diffuse optical read paired with magnetic and magnetogenetic write in a multimodal closed-loop architecture — into Motif Neurotech,… - In [[articles/The Next Interface Layer|The Next Interface Layer]], **Merge Labs: OpenAI's BCI Investment** provides the narrative context for **Forest Neurotech**: On January 15, 2026, OpenAI led a seed round for Merge Labs — reported by Bloomberg at $252 million and by TechCrunch at $250 million, at a reported valuation of approximately $850 million — with Sam Altman participating in a…  ## Research Edges  #### Master relationship graph patch — 2026-09-10 **Collection:** [[collections/Neurotech|Neurotech]] **Relationship source:** [[research/Neurotechnology Ecosystem Relationship Graph - 2026-09-10|Neurotechnology Ecosystem Relationship Graph — 2026-09-10]] **Related source articles:** [[articles/The Architecture of Continuity and Emerging Neuroinformatics Standards|The Architecture of Continuity and Emerging Neuroinformatics Standards]] · [[articles/2026 Annual Report on Brain-Computer Interfaces|2026 Annual Report on Brain-Computer Interfaces]] · [[articles/The Organic-Synthetic Brain Atlas|The Organic-Synthetic Brain Atlas]] #### Outgoing typed edges - **Edge 224 — `founded_in` → 2023** — **VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`, `ARBOR_ABOUT`. - **Edge 225 — `co_founded_by` → [[wiki/Sumner Norman|Sumner Norman]]** — **VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`, `ARBOR_ABOUT`. - **Edge 226 — `co_founded_by` → [[wiki/Tyson Aflalo|Tyson Aflalo]]** — **VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`, `ARBOR_ABOUT`. - **Edge 227 — `co_founded_by` → [[wiki/Will Biederman|Will Biederman]]** — **VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`, `ARBOR_ABOUT`. - **Edge 228 — `organizational_form` → [[wiki/Focused Research Organization|Focused Research Organization (FRO)]]** — **VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`, `CONVERGENT`. Mission-scoped nonprofit R&D structure. - **Edge 229 — `incubated_by` → [[wiki/Convergent Research|Convergent Research]]** — **VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`, `CONVERGENT`. - **Edge 230 — `funded_by` → [[wiki/Eric Schmidt|Eric Schmidt]] and [[wiki/Wendy Schmidt|Wendy Schmidt]]** — **VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`. Historical philanthropic support. - **Edge 231 — `funded_by` → [[wiki/Griffin Catalyst|Griffin Catalyst]]** — **VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`. - **Edge 232 — `funded_by` → [[wiki/Riley & Susan Bechtel Foundation|Riley & Susan Bechtel Foundation]]** — **VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`. - **Edge 233 — `funded_by` → [[wiki/James Fickel|James Fickel]]** — **VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`. - **Edge 234 — `advisor` → [[wiki/Mikhail Shapiro|Mikhail Shapiro]]** — **VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`. Pre-existing personnel bridge into Merge Labs. - **Edge 235 — `advisor` → [[wiki/Wojciech Zaremba|Wojciech Zaremba]]** — **VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`. OpenAI co-founder; demonstrates an OpenAI-network adjacency before Merge financing, not an OpenAI corporate investment in Forest. - **Edge 236 — `advisor` → [[wiki/Frank Fischer|Frank Fischer]]** — **VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`. Founder of NeuroPace; clinical neuromodulation bridge. - **Edge 238 — `co_development_partner` → [[wiki/Butterfly Network|Butterfly Network]]** — **VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_BUTTERFLY`. Agreement predates Merge and establishes direct Ultrasound-on-Chip lineage. - **Edge 239 — `commercial_agreement_value` → 20 million USD with Butterfly across licensing/chips/services/milestones** — **VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_BUTTERFLY`. Historical agreement terms as publicly announced. - **Edge 240 — `patent_family` → [[wiki/WO2025007077A9|WO2025007077A9]]** — **VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_PATENT`. Ultrasound-based nervous-system imaging/modulation system and methods. - **Edge 250 — `renamed_to` → [[wiki/Arbor Neuroscience|Arbor Neuroscience]]** — **VERIFIED**; evidence `ARBOR_HOME`, `ARBOR_ABOUT`. Current 2026 identity; historical Forest remains a necessary alias/source node. - **Edge 259 — `research_lineage_to` → [[wiki/Merge Labs|Merge Labs]]** — **VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_MERGE`. Convergent/Essential Technology announcement states Merge team and direction have roots in Forest and the organizations will continue to partner. #### Incoming typed edges - **Edge 249 — [[wiki/WO2025007077A9|WO2025007077A9]] `assignee` → this entry** — **VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_PATENT`. Google Patents reports current/original assignee; verify legal status before legal conclusions.   #### Interface and soft-sovereignty graph patch — 2026-09-10 **Collections:** [[collections/War With Empire|War With Empire]] · [[collections/Neurotech|Neurotech]] **Relationship source:** [[research/Interface and Soft Sovereignty Ecosystem Relationship Graph - 2026-09-10|Interface and Soft Sovereignty Ecosystem Relationship Graph — 2026-09-10]] **Related source articles:** [[articles/The Next Interface Layer|The Next Interface Layer]] · [[articles/The Magic Kingdom and the Managed State|The Magic Kingdom and the Managed State]] #### Outgoing typed edges - **Edge 520 — `founded_by` → [[wiki/Sumner Norman|Sumner Norman]]** — **VERIFIED**; evidence `ARBOR_HOME`, `ARBOR_ABOUT`, `ARBOR_INTRO`. - **Edge 521 — `founded_by` → [[wiki/Tyson Aflalo|Tyson Aflalo]]** — **VERIFIED**; evidence `ARBOR_HOME`, `ARBOR_ABOUT`, `ARBOR_INTRO`. - **Edge 522 — `founded_by` → [[wiki/Will Biederman|Will Biederman]]** — **VERIFIED**; evidence `ARBOR_HOME`, `ARBOR_ABOUT`, `ARBOR_INTRO`. - **Edge 523 — `organizational_form` → [[wiki/Focused Research Organization|Focused Research Organization]]** — **VERIFIED**; evidence `ARBOR_HOME`, `ARBOR_ABOUT`, `ARBOR_INTRO`. - **Edge 524 — `part_of` → [[wiki/Convergent Research|Convergent Research]]** — **VERIFIED**; evidence `ARBOR_HOME`, `ARBOR_ABOUT`, `ARBOR_INTRO`. - **Edge 525 — `renamed_to` → [[wiki/Arbor Neuroscience|Arbor Neuroscience]]** — **VERIFIED**; evidence `ARBOR_HOME`, `ARBOR_ABOUT`, `ARBOR_INTRO`. #### Incoming typed edges - **Edge 534 — [[wiki/Merge Labs|Merge Labs]] `personnel_lineage_from` → this entry** — **STRONG_TECHNICAL_LINEAGE**; evidence `OPENAI_MERGE`, `ARBOR_ABOUT`. Aflalo and Norman are common founders; do not describe Merge as corporate successor unless a source says so.   #### Consciousness mapping and transfer graph patch — 2026-09-10 **Collections:** [[collections/Neurotech|Neurotech]] · [[collections/Consciousness Continuity|Consciousness Continuity]] **Relationship source:** [[research/Consciousness Mapping and Transfer Ecosystem Relationship Graph - 2026-09-10|Consciousness Mapping and Transfer Ecosystem Relationship Graph — 2026-09-10]] **Related source articles:** [[articles/Technologies for Consciousness Mapping and Transfer|Technologies for Consciousness Mapping and Transfer]] · [[articles/The Architecture of Continuity and Emerging Neuroinformatics Standards|The Architecture of Continuity and Emerging Neuroinformatics Standards]] · [[articles/2026 Annual Report on Brain-Computer Interfaces|2026 Annual Report on Brain-Computer Interfaces]] · [[articles/The Organic-Synthetic Brain Atlas|The Organic-Synthetic Brain Atlas]] #### Outgoing typed edges - **Edge 224 — `founded_in` → 2023** — **PRIOR_NEUROTECH_VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`, `ARBOR_ABOUT`. - **Edge 225 — `co_founded_by` → [[wiki/Sumner Norman|Sumner Norman]]** — **PRIOR_NEUROTECH_VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`, `ARBOR_ABOUT`. - **Edge 226 — `co_founded_by` → [[wiki/Tyson Aflalo|Tyson Aflalo]]** — **PRIOR_NEUROTECH_VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`, `ARBOR_ABOUT`. - **Edge 227 — `co_founded_by` → [[wiki/Will Biederman|Will Biederman]]** — **PRIOR_NEUROTECH_VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`, `ARBOR_ABOUT`. - **Edge 228 — `organizational_form` → [[wiki/Focused Research Organization (FRO)|Focused Research Organization (FRO)]]** — **PRIOR_NEUROTECH_VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`, `CONVERGENT`. Mission-scoped nonprofit R&D structure. - **Edge 229 — `incubated_by` → [[wiki/Convergent Research|Convergent Research]]** — **PRIOR_NEUROTECH_VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`, `CONVERGENT`. - **Edge 230 — `funded_by` → [[wiki/Eric and Wendy Schmidt|Eric and Wendy Schmidt]]** — **PRIOR_NEUROTECH_VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`. Historical philanthropic support. - **Edge 231 — `funded_by` → [[wiki/Griffin Catalyst|Griffin Catalyst]]** — **PRIOR_NEUROTECH_VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`. - **Edge 232 — `funded_by` → [[wiki/Riley & Susan Bechtel Foundation|Riley & Susan Bechtel Foundation]]** — **PRIOR_NEUROTECH_VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`. - **Edge 233 — `funded_by` → [[wiki/James Fickel|James Fickel]]** — **PRIOR_NEUROTECH_VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`. - **Edge 234 — `advisor` → [[wiki/Mikhail Shapiro|Mikhail Shapiro]]** — **PRIOR_NEUROTECH_VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`. Pre-existing personnel bridge into Merge Labs. - **Edge 235 — `advisor` → [[wiki/Wojciech Zaremba|Wojciech Zaremba]]** — **PRIOR_NEUROTECH_VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`. OpenAI co-founder; demonstrates an OpenAI-network adjacency before Merge financing, not an OpenAI corporate investment in Forest. - **Edge 236 — `advisor` → [[wiki/Frank Fischer|Frank Fischer]]** — **PRIOR_NEUROTECH_VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_ABOUT`. Founder of NeuroPace; clinical neuromodulation bridge. - **Edge 238 — `co_development_partner` → [[wiki/Butterfly Network|Butterfly Network]]** — **PRIOR_NEUROTECH_VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_BUTTERFLY`. Agreement predates Merge and establishes direct Ultrasound-on-Chip lineage. - **Edge 239 — `commercial_agreement_value` → 20 million USD with Butterfly across licensing/chips/services/milestones** — **PRIOR_NEUROTECH_VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_BUTTERFLY`. Historical agreement terms as publicly announced. - **Edge 240 — `patent_family` → [[wiki/WO2025007077A9|WO2025007077A9]]** — **PRIOR_NEUROTECH_VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_PATENT`. Ultrasound-based nervous-system imaging/modulation system and methods. - **Edge 250 — `renamed_to` → [[wiki/Arbor Neuroscience|Arbor Neuroscience]]** — **PRIOR_NEUROTECH_VERIFIED**; evidence `ARBOR_HOME`, `ARBOR_ABOUT`, `ARBOR_INTRO`. Current 2026 identity; historical Forest remains a necessary alias/source node. - **Edge 259 — `research_lineage_to` → [[wiki/Merge Labs|Merge Labs]]** — **PRIOR_NEUROTECH_VERIFIED**; evidence `FOREST_MERGE`. Convergent/Essential Technology announcement states Merge team and direction have roots in Forest and the organizations will continue to partner. - **Edge 562 — `founded_by` → [[wiki/Sumner Norman|Sumner Norman]]** — **PRIOR_INTERFACE_VERIFIED**; evidence `ARBOR_HOME`, `ARBOR_ABOUT`, `ARBOR_INTRO`. - **Edge 563 — `founded_by` → [[wiki/Tyson Aflalo|Tyson Aflalo]]** — **PRIOR_INTERFACE_VERIFIED**; evidence `ARBOR_HOME`, `ARBOR_ABOUT`, `ARBOR_INTRO`. - **Edge 564 — `founded_by` → [[wiki/Will Biederman|Will Biederman]]** — **PRIOR_INTERFACE_VERIFIED**; evidence `ARBOR_HOME`, `ARBOR_ABOUT`, `ARBOR_INTRO`. - **Edge 565 — `organizational_form` → [[wiki/Focused Research Organization|Focused Research Organization]]** — **PRIOR_INTERFACE_VERIFIED**; evidence `ARBOR_HOME`, `ARBOR_ABOUT`, `ARBOR_INTRO`. - **Edge 566 — `part_of` → [[wiki/Convergent Research|Convergent Research]]** — **PRIOR_INTERFACE_VERIFIED**; evidence `ARBOR_HOME`, `ARBOR_ABOUT`, `ARBOR_INTRO`. #### Incoming typed edges - **Edge 572 — [[wiki/Merge Labs|Merge Labs]] `personnel_lineage_from` → this entry** — **PRIOR_INTERFACE_STRONG_TECHNICAL_LINEAGE**; evidence `OPENAI_MERGE`, `ARBOR_ABOUT`. Aflalo and Norman are common founders; do not describe Merge as corporate successor unless a source says so.