According to a Reuters report on March 27, six informed sources revealed that Elon Musk’s brain-computer interface company, Neuralink, has contacted the Barrow Neurological Institute, one of the largest neurosurgical centers in the United States, to discuss potential collaboration for clinical trials, as Neuralink prepares to test its devices on humans pending regulatory approval.
Sources also stated that the talks might not lead to a final partnership, and that in addition to the Barrow Neurological Institute, Neuralink has discussed collaborations with other centers.
Reports indicate that since 2016, Neuralink has been developing brain implants with the aim of ultimately curing intractable conditions such as paralysis and blindness. However, Neuralink faced a setback in early 2022 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration rejected its application to conduct human clinical trials, citing significant safety concerns.
Since then, Neuralink has been working to address the agency’s concerns, and it remains unclear whether and when the company will succeed.