Billionaire Elon Musk’s Neuralink, an American neurotechnology company that makes implantable brain computer interfaces, has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the first human trials that could help treat conditions such as obesity, autism, depression, schizophrenia, etc. .
Neuralink is struggling to get the green light from the FDA to begin its human clinical trials.
Neuralink tweeted, expressing that this approval marks a significant initial milestone that will eventually allow their technology to assist a larger number of individuals.
The company did not explain the goal of the survey, saying only that it “is not hiring and will have more information soon.
According to SpaceX CEO Musk’s vision, brain implants could cure diseases as diverse as obesity, autism, depression and schizophrenia, and enable Internet browsing and telepathy.
Musk expressed his enthusiasm for the technology last year, saying he was so confident in the device’s safety that he “would like to put it on my kids.”
Since 2019, the 51-year-old CEO has said four times that Neuralink will begin human trials. However, according to a Reuters report, the company did not apply for FDA approval until 2022. At first, the agency rejected the request.
According to the employee, the FDA has raised several concerns about Neuralink that must be addressed before human testing is allowed.
Key issues included the lithium battery of the device, migration of implanted wires into the brain, and the challenge of removing the device safely without damaging brain tissue.
The neurotech company he founded in 2016 has been the subject of several federal investigations.
U.S. lawmakers have been able to in May urged regulators to investigate whether the creation of an oversight panel for animal testing by NeurLink contributed to more sensitive and faster trials.
The Immigration Department is separately investigating whether the company illegally transported dangerous viruses in chips removed from elephant brains without proper preventive measures in place.
US over alleged animal welfare violations by Neuralink The Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General is also investigating. That investigation also examined USDA regulation of Neuralink.