Neuralink, the brain implant company founded by Elon Musk, announced on Thursday its intentions to initiate a clinical trial in the United Kingdom. This study aims to explore the ability of its chips to allow patients suffering from severe paralysis to control both digital and physical devices using their thoughts.
The company will collaborate with University College London Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals for the trial, as detailed in a recent post on X.
Individuals with paralysis resulting from conditions such as spinal cord injuries and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) will be eligible to take part in the study, according to Neuralink’s announcement.
Last month, Neuralink secured $650 million in its latest funding round and began human trials in 2024 after addressing safety concerns raised by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which had previously denied the company’s application in 2022.
Currently, Neuralink reports that five patients with severe paralysis are utilizing its device to control various tools with just their thoughts.
Since its inception in 2016, Neuralink has raised approximately $1.3 billion from investors and holds an estimated valuation of around $9 billion, as reported by media sources referencing PitchBook.
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