Elon Musk’s brain microchip start-up Neuralink is poised to start human trials after securing approval from an independent review board to start a trial of its implant on paralysed patients.
The start-up said in a statement on Tuesday that the independent review board has granted the go-ahead, meaning it can start hiring staff for what would be the company’s first-ever human trial.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave clearance for a human trial of the brain-computer interface implants in May.
However, while Neuralink had sought to implant the device in 10 patients, it had to compromise the scope of the study after the FDA had safety concerns, according to reports that cited company employees.
The first-ever human trial of Neuralink’s brain implants is expected to last for six years, during which the computer interface technology is expected to be implanted in patients with paralysis due to cervical spinal cord injuries or conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Brain implants will be inserted in the region that governs the intention to move so that participants can control a computer keyboard or cursor using thought, according to Neuralink.
The business has been accused of killing 1,500 animals over the past four years during testing of its implant, as staff suggest trials are being unnecessarily rushed, according to a report last year.