Neuralink begins UK study on brain chips to aid paralyzed users

Anabelle Colaco
03 Aug 2025, 16:05 GMT+10

Elon Musk’s Neuralink is taking its brain-computer interface technology to the UK, with a clinical trial aimed at helping patients with severe paralysis operate devices using only their thoughts
The company announced it will partner with the University College London Hospitals trust and Newcastle Hospitals to conduct the study
Neuralink said the trial will involve patients suffering from conditions like spinal cord injuries and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

FREMONT, California: Elon Musk's Neuralink is taking its brain-computer interface technology to the UK, with a clinical trial aimed at helping patients with severe paralysis operate devices using only their thoughts.

The company announced it will partner with the University College London Hospitals trust and Newcastle Hospitals to conduct the study.

Neuralink said the trial will involve patients suffering from conditions like spinal cord injuries and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). These individuals may qualify to test the company's implant, which is designed to enable control of digital and physical tools via brain signals.

The UK study comes as part of Neuralink's broader efforts to scale human testing of its brain chip. The company began human trials in 2024 after addressing safety issues flagged by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which initially rejected its application in 2022.

According to Neuralink, five patients with severe paralysis are already using the device to control external tools with their thoughts.

Founded in 2016, Neuralink has raised about US$1.3 billion from investors and is reportedly valued at approximately $9 billion, according to PitchBook data cited in media reports.

Last month, the company secured $650 million in fresh funding to advance its work on brain-machine interfaces.

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