Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain-computer interface (BCI) startup, has received approval from Health Canada to begin recruitment for its first clinical trial in the country.
The approval marks a significant milestone in Neuralink’s quest to develop technology that enables individuals with paralysis to control external devices using only their thoughts.
According to a statement released by Neuralink on November 20, the Canadian trial will focus on evaluating the safety and initial functionality of its implant for people with quadriplegia—the paralysis of all four limbs. The implant aims to restore autonomy by allowing users to control digital devices through thought alone.
Newsweek has contacted Neuralink via email for comment.
Canada’s University Health Network hospital announced that its Toronto facility has been selected to perform the complex neurosurgical procedures required for the implant.
The Canadian trial mirrors Neuralink’s efforts in the U.S., where the company has already implanted the device in two patients as part of its Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface Study. It aims to assess the safety and functionality of Neuralink’s BCI technology for individuals with severe motor impairments.
Neuralink commenced its first human clinical trial in January 2024 by implanting a BCI device in a patient named Noland Arbaugh. Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter) at the time, “The first human received an implant from @Neuralink yesterday and is recovering well. Initial results show promising neuron spike detection.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration had granted approval to initiate human trials in May 2023.
By August 2024, the company reported that its second participant, referred to as “Alex,” had received his Neuralink implant. According to its official blog, Alex has been improving his ability to play video games and has started learning how to use computer-aided design software to work on 3D objects.
“Taking an idea, putting it as a design, and actually having a physical item as a finished product makes me feel like I’m building things again,” Alex said.
Since initiating animal trials in 2017, Neuralink has conducted experiments on monkeys, pigs, sheep, rats, and mice. Early studies at the University of California, Davis, focused on developing and refining BCI technology.
Source: https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musks-neuralink-green-lit-first-brain-chip-trial-outside-us-1989625