20-9-2023 (CALIFORNIA) Neuralink, the brain-chip start-up founded by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, announced on Tuesday (Sep 19) that it has obtained approval from an independent review board to commence recruiting participants for its groundbreaking human trial of a brain implant designed for individuals suffering from paralysis.
The study will focus on individuals with paralysis caused by cervical spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS. However, Neuralink did not disclose the exact number of participants who will be enrolled in the trial, which is projected to span approximately six years.
According to Neuralink, the trial will involve the use of a robot to surgically implant a brain-computer interface (BCI) device in a specific region of the brain responsible for controlling movement intentions. The company’s initial objective is to empower individuals to manipulate a computer cursor or keyboard solely through their thoughts.
Previously, Neuralink had aimed to gain approval for implanting its device in ten patients. However, due to safety concerns raised by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the company is currently in negotiations to reduce the number of patients involved. The precise figure of patients approved by the FDA has not been disclosed.
Elon Musk holds ambitious plans for Neuralink, envisioning the company as a catalyst for efficient surgical implantations of its chip devices to treat a wide range of conditions, including obesity, autism, depression, and schizophrenia.
In May, Neuralink announced that it had obtained clearance from the FDA for its first-in-human clinical trial. However, the company faced scrutiny from federal authorities regarding its handling of animal testing at the time.
Even if the BCI device proves to be safe for human use, experts suggest that it could still take more than a decade for Neuralink to obtain commercial clearance for widespread implementation.
