Taste of Bionics

In this episode of Taste of Bionics, host Sarah de Lagarde welcomes one of the world’s leading experts in bionics, neurorehabilitation, and phantom limb pain research: Prof. Max Ortiz Catalan. Dialing in directly from Kyiv, Ukraine—where he is currently helping survivors of war and trauma regain mobility—Max shares profound insights into the cutting-edge science of human restoration and what it truly means to embody technology.

Further information:

Website Prof. Max Ortiz Catalan: https://www.maxortizcatalan.com/

Center for Bionics and Pain Research: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cbprse

Find out more about Ottobock:

Website: https://corporate.ottobock.com/en/home

Contact us:

Feel free to let us know what you think, leave us some feedback, tell us your story or ask us your questions – just send an e-mail to [email protected]. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

In this episode, Sarah connects with Dr. Arun Jayaraman, a leading global expert in rehabilitation technology and mobility science. As Scientific Chair of Technology and Innovation at the world-renowned Shirley Ryan Ability Lab in Chicago, Arun oversees the translation of cutting-edge research into clinical practice across a spectrum of conditions—from spinal cord injuries and stroke to pediatric motor delays.

Further information:

Dr. Arun Jayaraman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arun-jayaraman-68448944

The Shirley Ryan Ability Lab: https://www.sralab.org/

Find out more about Ottobock:

Website: https://corporate.ottobock.com/en/home

Contact us:

Feel free to let us know what you think, leave us some feedback, tell us your story or ask us your questions – just send an e-mail to [email protected]. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

In this episode, Sarah de Lagarde welcomes a true visionary in global tech education and gender equity: Tram Anh Nguyen. Tram Anh is the co-founder of the Centre for Finance, Technology and Entrepreneurship (CFTE) and the Chairwoman of Global Women in AI. Having educated hundreds of thousands of professionals across 130 countries, her work focuses not just on what technology can achieve, but on who gets to build, govern, and benefit from it.

Further information:

Tram Anh Nguyen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tramanhnguyen9/

The AI-fication of Talents whitepaper: https://courses.cfte.education/cfte-the-ai-fication-of-talents-whitepaper/

Find out more about Ottobock:

Website: https://corporate.ottobock.com/en/home

Contact us:

Feel free to let us know what you think, leave us some feedback, tell us your story or ask us your questions – just send an e-mail to [email protected]. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

Sarah de Lagarde is the new host for our second season of »Taste of Bionics«. Through her work, her adventures, and her own experience with prosthetic technology, she has met some extraordinary people who are reimagining what's possible for the human body and the human spirit.

Together, they explore the breakthroughs transforming lives, the challenges still ahead, and the personal stories that inspire progress.

Contact us:

Feel free to let us know what you think, leave us some feedback, tell us your story or ask us your questions – just send an e-mail to [email protected]. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

This episode of Taste of Bionics brings together two leaders who represent both continuity and transformation at Ottobock: Georgia Näder, a fourth-generation member of the founding family, embodies innovation and modern leadership while staying true to the company’s core values; and Oliver Jakobi, who started as an apprentice and rose to become CEO, has steered Ottobock through decades of growth and, most recently, its landmark IPO in October 2025. Together, they share a vision: empowering people through technology, driving user-centered innovation, and shaping the future of mobility worldwide.

With Ranga, Georgia opens up about what it feels like to carry a century-old family legacy and how early responsibility shape the way she leads today, while Oliver talks about his 35-year journey and what keeps him motivated.Tune in to discover how technology, resilience, and curiosity can redefine what it means to be human and why Ottobock is at the forefront of enabling that future.

Find out more about Ottobock: https://corporate.ottobock.com/en/home

Working in the field of nerve regeneration has a lot in common with being an electrician, says Dr. Jennifer Ernst. She is Head of Innovative Amputation Medicine, Department of Trauma Surgery, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (MHH). A specialist in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Jennifer has special knowledge in modern surgical techniques such as targeted muscle rein nervation (TMR), osseointegration and Agonist-Antagonist-Myoneuronal-Interface (AMI).

In this episode of Taste of Bionics, together with Ranga, she explores the main advantages of such procedures, the current limitations and existing challenges. Where is the development in amputation medicine headed and what will the next milestones be?

Tune in to discover how technology, resilience, and curiosity can redefine what it means to be human and why Ottobock is at the forefront of enabling that future.

Find out more about Ottobock: https://corporate.ottobock.com/en/home

What happens when the boundary between humans and machines starts to dissolve? Dr. Connor Glass is the Founder and CEO of Phantom Neuro, a neurotechnology company building the next generation of human–machine interfaces. With a background in medicine and research at Johns Hopkins, Connor left clinical practice to tackle a deeper challenge: how humans can intuitively and seamlessly control the machines that extend their capabilities.

In this episode of Taste of Bionics, Connor talks to Ranga about developing Phantom X, a minimally invasive muscle-machine interface that enables intuitive control of prosthetic limbs and robotic devices, and how to make high-performance neural control accessible and scalable – not only for amputees, but also for broader applications in robotics and human augmentation.

Tune in to discover how technology, resilience, and curiosity can redefine what it means to be human and why Ottobock is at the forefront of enabling that future.

Editorial note: this episode was recorded in 2025.

Find out more about Ottobock: https://corporate.ottobock.com/en/home

How do people react when they see someone running on blades fast – like really, really fast? Johannes Floors is a German Paralympic sprinter and double below-knee amputee who competes using high-performance prosthetic blades. He has won multiple gold medals at World Championships and Paralympic Games, including in Rio, Tokyo, and Paris. He is also a trained orthopaedic technician, works on his Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and is part in Ottobock’s Research & Development department, where he contributes to advancing prosthetic technologies.

In this episode of Taste of Bionics, he talks to Ranga about what led to his decision to amputate both legs below the knees and how it changed his life, and he takes us on his journey on becoming a world class athlete.

Tune in to discover how technology, resilience, and curiosity can redefine what it means to be human and why Ottobock is at the forefront of enabling that future.

Find out more about Ottobock: https://corporate.ottobock.com/en/home

Every guest is our host Ranga’s favourite guest, of course – but this conversation in particular has him on the edge of his seat: Hugh Herr is a professor at the MIT Media Lab, where he leads the Biomechatronics Group and co-directs the K. Lisa Yang Center for Bionics. But first of all, he is known for transferring the whole field: After losing both legs in a climbing accident in 1982, Hugh turned personal adversity into scientific innovation.

In this episode of Taste of Bionics, he talks to Ranga about developing advanced prosthetic limbs that integrate with the human nervous system, restoring mobility and enhancing physical capabilities. How do bionic limbs work? What about the future of human-machine interfaces? And what are the challenges in translating lab research to real-world applications?

Tune in to discover how technology, resilience, and curiosity can redefine what it means to be human and why Ottobock is at the forefront of enabling that future.

Find out more about Ottobock: https://corporate.ottobock.com/en/home

There are tears everyday due to a new spinal cord therapy, shed by everyone involved. But why is that?

In this episode of Taste of Bionics, host Ranga Yogeshwar speaks with Dave Marver. He’s the CEO of ONWARD Medical, which is developing breakthrough therapies for people with spinal cord injury. Under Dave’s leadership, ONWARD has earned ten FDA Breakthrough Device Designations. Its first product was named one of TIME magazine’s Best Inventions and recognized among Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas for its potential to transform lives.

Together, Dave and Ranga explore dramatic new treatments for spinal cord injuries that are helping patients regain movement, function and independence.

Tune in to discover how technology, resilience, and curiosity can redefine what it means to be human.

Find out more about Ottobock: https://corporate.ottobock.com/en/home