A job posting for the director of clinical trials suggests that the brain-computer interface startup is preparing for human trials — but it has not yet received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Neuralink, a brain implant technology company founded by Elon Musk, is looking for a clinical trial director to lead the startup's research activities, suggesting the company may plan to conduct its first human trials.
The San Francisco-based neurotechnology company was founded in 2016 by Musk in collaboration with experts in neuroscience and robotics. Its purpose is to help paralyzed patients interact with devices such as computers and mobile phones in a more natural way.
Neuralink has been working on a brain-computer interface activated by a chip that can be implanted into the human brain. The company has previously experimented with the technology in pigs and monkeys and may now be looking to take it to the next level.
"As clinical trial director, you will work closely with some of the most innovative physicians and top engineers, as well as with Neuralink's first clinical trial participants," the job description reads.
Successful candidates will help build and lead teams responsible for implementing Neuralink's clinical research activities and developing "regulatory interactions that accompany a fast-paced and evolving environment."
In 2020, Musk said the startup received groundbreaking device certification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While this does not mean approval, this designation can speed up the regulatory process for high-potential medical devices.
In the long run, Musk hopes that the Neuralin device will allow people to achieve "superhuman cognition" — an achievement that may alleviate Musk's own concerns about the advantages of ARTIFICIAL. The company's first product, the N1 Link device, is an implant that transmits data over a wireless connection.
At a live event in 2020, Musk said Neuralink has successfully implanted a coin-sized computer chip into a pig. Last year, the company demonstrated monkeys playing the classic video game Pong with their brains by using two N1 Link chips implanted in their brains.
Last July, the startup raised $205 million in a Series C funding round, led by Dubai-based investment firm Vy Capital. Some individual investors have also contributed, including Sam Altman, former president of Y Combinator, Coinbase co-founder Fred Ehrsam, and PayPal co-founder Ken Howery.
That same month, Neuralink's competitor, Synchron, received FDA approval to conduct an early feasibility study involving human subjects. Last month, Synchron said an Australian patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) became the first person to release information to the world using only direct thinking through its implantable brain-computer interface. The message reads: "Hello World."
Recommended in previous periods
Irish immigrant friends look over, settle home English intensive class hot enrollment!
[9,218 new cases] Half of the COVID-19 hospitalizations in Ireland were infected after being admitted to hospital for other diseases
How do you turn down employees who want to work from home? Ireland's new legislation prepares 13 reasons for employers
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause delays in driving tests and NCT appointments in Ireland
After the oil price spike, Ireland became one of the countries with the highest prices for petrol and diesel in the world
【Dry goods】 Matters to be aware of when applying for a mortgage loan in Ireland in 2022
Where to meet in the Spring Festival in the Year of the Tiger? Come to Maneki Karaoke in Dublin District 2!