Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain chip business said on Thursday that it will start clinical trials in the UK. The aim is to find out if its implants are able to enable severely paralyzed individuals to control physical and digital devices with their minds.
In order to conduct the research, Neuralink is collaborating with Newcastle Hospitals and University College London Hospitals, the business stated in an announcement on X.
Who will be Involved During the Trail
The trial will involve patients paralyzed because of conditions such as spinal cord injury or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a nervous system disease. Neuralink said, “Patients who live with paralysis from conditions such as spinal cord injury and a nervous system condition called Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) are eligible to take part in the study.”
Understanding Neuralink
Neuralink, a neurotech firm founded by Elon Musk in 2016, has created a brain-computer interface (BCI) that can transform thoughts into actions. The company claims that its device could enable paralyzed people to move once more and even restore sight to those born blind.
This brain implant, referred to as the N1 Implant or ‘the Link’, is roughly the diameter of a coin and is inserted under the skull. It is attached to thin wires, or neural threads, that lead into areas of the brain that are responsible for movement. These threads contain sensors capable of recording and transmitting electrical signals.
As per Neuralink’s official website, the wires are ‘so fine that they can’t be inserted by the human hand’, due to which the company has developed a specialized robot for the surgery. This robot is made for doing the procedure automatically.
Neuralink started human trials in 2024 after it resolved previous safety concerns expressed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA had rejected the application in 2022 but later approved.
Five individuals with severe paralysis are already utilizing Neuralink’s brain implant to operate different devices simply through thoughts, according to the company.
Established in 2016, Neuralink has raised about $1.3 billion and is currently valued at around $9 billion. During its latest round of funding last month, the company raised $650 million.
