I was reading Sid Sijbrandij cancer journey, the GitLab founder in his forties who went “founder mode” on his own cancer, and it reminded me of why we started Current Surgical. If you ever have a cancer diagnosis, you only want to hear: your cancer is operable.
amashal.substack.com/p/the-curati...
Posts by Al Mashal
My contrarian take for 2026: give the FDA more resources to streamline breakthrough medtech and therapeutics. The innovations that will actually move the needle on longevity, quality of life, and costs all require regulatory approval. We can’t be afraid to do the hard things.
Thank you @mayorbowser.dc.gov! We’re grateful to have the community’s support as we grow @currentsurgical.bsky.social.
The House Ways and Means Committee passed a bill earlier this week that gives breakthrough devices 4 years of Medicare coverage. This is a great step for patients - and a great incentive for companies taking bold bets in developing life-saving technologies.
www.advamed.org/industry-upd...
Love this feel-good story — and that it helps illustrate the wide-ranging applications of minimally invasive ablation:
health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlin...
The ultrasound paradox: devices are inexpensive but development requires talent and capital.
You have to solve issues of signal processing, electrical engineering, mechanical design, and physics simultaneously. Proud of our team for pushing through these challenges.
Our flagship event for founders in the True Portfolio, #FounderCamp2025, kicks off this week! We can hardly believe it – this will be our 18th Founder Camp to date. See you soon, Founders!
1/ Ever wonder how a clearly brilliant person – someone great a math and engineering and company building – can display shockingly unintelligent thinking when it comes to politics? Neuroscience has the answer!
It’s been a tough few weeks. My 10yo daughter was diagnosed with a very rare, aggressive cancer called interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma (IDCS). I’m reaching out to identify clinicians/patients who have encountered pediatric IDCS or other (non-LCH) dendritic or histiocytic sarcomas cases.
While NIH/NSF grant overhead rates need reform, a 15% cap is unrealistic. Even as a scrappy startup, our indirect rate is ~40%. We need a balanced approach that ensures research sustainability.
True Ventures Starter Pack 🚀🚀🚀
go.bsky.app/37s8nxc
Something fascinating - surgeries are often hospitals' biggest money-makers, and it makes sense why. For so many major diseases, surgery is the best shot at a cure. Every surgical breakthrough leads to greater longevity.