UK to host Neuralink trials: Elon Musk's brain implants to undergo testing
In a groundbreaking development, Elon Musk's company, Neuralink, has announced the initiation of brain chip clinical trials in the United Kingdom. This marks the first European country to conduct such a study, a significant step in Neuralink's mission to bring its brain-interface technology to people in need.
The trials are in collaboration with prestigious institutions, including University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) and Newcastle Hospitals. The aim is to implant Neuralink's N1 chip under the skulls of patients living with paralysis, allowing them to control digital and physical tools with their thoughts.
The N1 chip, also known as "The Link," connects the brain's motor cortex through ultra-thin threads equipped with electrodes that pick up neural signals—electrical activity generated by a person's thoughts about actions. This technology has the potential to transform the lives of people living with neurological issues, according to Professor Harith Akram, a consultant neurosurgeon at UCLH.
Neuralink's objectives include verifying the chip's safety and efficacy in restoring communication and control for paralyzed individuals, as well as advancing software capabilities to better interpret neural signals, addressing issues seen in earlier US trials where many electrode threads lost connectivity.
The UK trials build upon the successes of Neuralink's trials in the US. In 2024, the company began human trials following the resolution of safety concerns raised by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Approximately five patients have already benefited from the device’s functionality, with one notable case being Audrey Crews, a paralyzed woman who was able to write her name after two decades following the implantation of Neuralink's brain chip N1.
Neuralink's broader ambition remains the development of human-AI symbiosis to enhance brain capabilities beyond therapeutic applications. However, current trials prioritize assisting those with severe neurological disabilities.
The timeline started with regulatory approval in 2025, followed by patient recruitment for the seven-person study focused on those with severe movement impairment. The operations will utilize Neuralink's R1 surgical robot.
The trial has been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and the company has raised approximately $1.3 billion in funding from investors. This development represents a significant step toward broader medical adoption of brain-computer interface (BCI) technology for neurological disorders.
Progress so far indicates that the implant can facilitate controlling digital tools solely through thought, promising improved quality of life for patients with significant paralysis. Neuralink's X account announced the expansion of human trials, stating it as an important step towards bringing its life-changing BCI technology to individuals with neurological disorders worldwide.
[1] Neuralink begins UK brain chip trials for paralysis patients [2] Neuralink begins UK clinical trials for paralysis patients [3] Neuralink's brain chip trials in the UK: what you need to know
[4] Neuralink's N1 chip trial in the UK marks the first European study of brain-interface technology for health and wellness
[5] In the UK, Neuralink's groundbreaking N1 chip trial aims to improve health outcomes for paralyzed patients by enabling control of digital and physical tools with thoughts
[6] The world watches as Neuralink's BCI technology evolves: from US trials to UK clinical tests focusing on health-related applications
