A Pioneer in Neuroscience
and Virtual Reality
Mavi Sánchez-Vives, co-founder of Kiin, is a distinguished researcher in neuroscience and virtual reality. With a medical degree and a Ph.D. in neurosciences, she had an impact on the VR field by exploring the intricate workings of the human brain and pushing the boundaries of VR technology. Mavi’s groundbreaking research on body ownership illusions from a neuroscience perspective has transformed the potential of our immersive experiences.
At Kiin, Mavi’s expertise has been crucial in developing cutting-edge VR solutions that merge neuroscience and technology. Her investigations into cortical information integration, bodily representation, and brain-computer interfaces and VR have unlocked new possibilities for immersive experiences.
Scientific career
Mavi is ICREA Research Professor at the Institute of Biomedical Research August Pi i Sunyer-Hospital Clinic in Barcelona, where she leads the Systems Neuroscience group. She is also co-Director of the EVENT Lab (Experimental Virtual Environments in Neuroscience and Technology) at the University of Barcelona. Following her doctorate in neuroscience, she did her postdoctoral training in the biophysics laboratory at Rockefeller University and in the neurobiology department at Yale University (USA). She has authored over 150 scientific articles both in the fields of neuroscience and VR. She has been the principal investigator in more than 10 European projects, coordinating some of them. She has been a PI of the Human Brain Project and member of the Science and Infrastructure board of the project. She coordinated the EU project “VR per GENERE” that used virtual reality to reduce violent behaviour. She recently obtained an ERC Synergy project.
