Elon Musk’s neurotech startup, Neuralink, is set to begin recruiting patients for its first-in-human clinical trial known as the PRIME Study. The announcement follows approval from an independent institutional review board and a hospital site, as well as prior approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May for its first-in-human clinical study.
The trial will involve invasive brain surgery and aims to test Neuralink’s brain implant, which is designed to enable individuals with severe paralysis to control external devices using neural signals. The initial objective is to allow users to control a computer cursor or keyboard solely through their thoughts. This technology could potentially help people with degenerative conditions like ALS regain their ability to communicate by typing with their minds.
Neuralink is part of the growing brain-computer interface (BCI) industry, which focuses on translating brain signals into commands for external devices. While several companies are developing promising BCI systems, Neuralink stands out due to its association with Elon Musk, who serves as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.
As of September, no BCI company has secured final FDA approval, but Neuralink’s progress in gaining approval for human trials brings it one step closer to achieving its goals. This development could pave the way for significant advancements in neurotechnology and its applications for individuals with severe disabilities.
