I found the workshop on sensors fascinating, especially the discussion on brain-computer interfaces (BCI) and their potential uses. While researching I discovered Elon Musk’s latest groundbreaking project: Neuralink. Neuralink was founded in 2016 by Musk with a clear goal: to create brain-machine interfaces enabling humans to directly control computers and other devices. Musk has stated further aims to cure neurological damage, treat mental health disorders and integrate humans with AI.
How does it work?
Neuralink’s N1 device revolutionizes BCI’s with 1,024 implantable electrodes, Bluetooth connectivity and a rechargeable battery. The Link intercepts electrical signals, controlling actions and thoughts in the brain, which scientists decode. The calibrated implant enables device control, like moving a cursor, simply by thinking about it. However, a major challenge is that weak signals are easily corrupted and artifacts from other signals are detected.
Neuralink began human trials in January 2024, with three participants who have paralysis. This has shown promising results, allowing them to deliver lectures, play video games for 72 hours, and design hardware for their family business — all through telepathy. I found these breakthroughs heartwarming as it offers new hope for those unable to use their limbs. While researching these trials, I found Neuralink provided surprisingly little information. Bioethicists have warned this ‘Science by press release,…, is not science’. I think that Neuralink’s lack of transparency is troubling as it prevents other researchers building on these findings to improving patient care.
How the Link has helped Noland (the first recipient).
As BCI technologies develop the privacy of our most confidential data- our thoughts, can be captured by these machines. This worries me, because current GDPR laws do not include neural data and the consent for this data may not be in the patient’s best interest. Trial patients may feel pressured to lose their data privacy in exchange for access to more freedom. Furthermore, this data is likely to become a huge target for hackers who could expose not only your passwords, but your thoughts too.
David Gibbs’ lecture on implants highlighted the balance between revolutionary devices and potential harm, much of which we may not realise until many people have the implant. This made me think more about the key principles of medical ethics, especially how to balance between beneficence and maleficence.
Since Neuralink is innovating across multiple countries with no existing laws, global regulators should address ethical and legal concerns, especially around data security, access, and cognitive enhancements
The Future
“A Neuralink-like device has the potential to enhance human memory, processing speed and cognitive abilities by creating a direct interface between the human brain and digital devices,” -Alcaide CEO of Neaurable. Others have envisioned the ability to download languages into your brain like skills in the Matrix. However, this may produce new inequalities in developing skills with money as the standard. These cognitive enhancements raise some fundamental issues regarding identity and autonomy. If radical changes are made to our brains will individuals retain their identity? And if someone changes their mind can the device be removed?
If these technologies are to be implemented into our everyday lives, all these questions and many more need to be addressed to calm public anxiety. I personally feel Neuralink’s N1 is an incredible technology able to transform people’s lives, but I have concerns for the future, with who has the power, and if necessary can they be stopped?
I would like to hear from you reader: If you could have a N1 implant that improved your brain function, would you? and why?
Organs you can hold in your hands’ sound like the work of science fiction or the canopic jars of the Egyptian pharaohs. But this is not too far from the present with organs tissue being made on chips (and no, not the salt and vinegar kind). These have been hailed by many as the future of drug development and an alternative to animal testing. I first heard about organs-on-chips about 5 years ago, they were mentioned as a technology of the future. But while looking into drug research with stem cells I rediscovered these chips and wanted to explore how they are used and what the next 5 years could look like.
What are organs on chips (OoC)?
Simply put they are microchips that are designed to mimic human organs. These contain living cells from different organs like the brain, bones, heart and lungs. They were originally theorised by Michael Shuler who envisioned connecting these to make a whole ‘body on a chip’.
Applications- Drug Development
Currently drug development takes an average of £1.22 billion, 13.5 years and 92% of drugs fail the strict regulations. This staggeringly high failure rate is due to testing on animal (generally mice) before humans. Animal testing unreliably predict if drugs will work due to genetic and immune differences to humans. The current inaccurate, expensive, and lengthy process for drugs development demands a new approach.
OoC’s could Refine testing by Reducing and Replacing the use of animal models. These 3R’s are part of the European Union’s guidelines on ethical animal testing. If regulatory authorities allow the use of OoC’s It would reduce public objections to testing drugs and cosmetics on animals. However, a major drawback of organ-on-a-chip technology is that it only mimics single organs. This means it can’t show how drugs are processed in interacting organs, like the stomach, before reaching their target, which could lead to inaccurate results.
Pros and cons
Pros and Cons of animal testing V OoC’s, the colour indicates the outcome: green= positive, yellow= neutral, red= negative.
The future: Patient-on-a-chip
Researchers are currently striving to develop body-on-chip technology. These would connect existing chips together to form a body circuit, that could mimic a drug’s pathway through the body.
Going to your GP with high blood pressure and they suggest several medications - luckily, they are printing your body chip now- with your stem cells, from your frozen umbilical cord stored when you were born. Now the doctor can test each treatment in your body chip and within a couple of hours your prescription is ready for you. It’s for the drug which will work the best for you with the fewest side effects.
Although this may sound a but far fetched, personalised medicine is a key focus in the NHS's strategy to improve outcomes. These have the potential to save millions of lives, but rely on a cell source. Cells from biopsies are generally uncontentious as there are thorough consent procedures and they involve adult cells. To enable personalised body chips, mesenchymal stem cells would be ideal. However this is accompanied by more legal, religious, and social scrutiny. For drug companies to change their historic means of testing there needs to be a regulatory pathway to integrate OoC’s into the clinical trial stages.
This is a good blog. It nicely demonstrates a good understanding of organ-on-a-chip technology and clearly explains its purpose and…
This is a good blog, very engaging with a good backgroud to 3D bioprinting. You could improve your blog with…
This is a good, very interesting blog about necrobotics. It explores the idea of necrobiotics which is fairly new approach…
This is a good blog. You introduce the reader to the topic of prosthetics and bionic limbs in a very…
This is a good blog introducing hernia mesh benefits and drawbacks. You create a narrative in this blog, which showcase…