Neuralink Approved For Human Brain Study

Food and Drug Administration

Elon Musk's company, Neuralink, got permission from the FDA to start its first human study. This is important because they had trouble getting approval before.

Musk said four times since 2019 that his medical device company will try out a brain implant on humans. The implant will be used for serious problems like being blind or paralyzed.

The company began in 2016, but only asked for FDA approval in 2022. The request was denied by the agency, according to seven employees.

Neuralink was told by the FDA to fix some problems before doing human trials. Workers said the battery, the wires, and keeping the brain safe while getting the device out were worries.

The FDA agreed with Neuralink on Thursday. Lawmakers think the panel overseeing animal testing may have messed up. They want an investigation into the panel's makeup. They think rushed and failed experiments may have happened.

Neuralink had investigations from the government.

The USDA checked if the researchers broke the Animal Welfare Act. They checked after a federal prosecutor asked them to. The company experimented on 1,500 animals over two years. Reuters reported that more than 280 sheep, pigs, and monkeys died because of these experiments.

The investigation is checking how well the USDA supervises Neuralink.

Neuralink tweeted on Thursday. It said the clinical trial isn't open yet.

The Neuralink team has done an incredible job. They have worked closely with the FDA. They have taken an important first step. And one day, their technology will help many people. This is what the company said in a tweet on Thursday.

Musk has a big plan for Neuralink. He shared it with the public for a long time. He said last year that the device is really safe. He trusted it so much that he would put it in his kids. People talked about it a lot.

Musk wants people to quickly get surgical implants at centers. These will cure many conditions, such as obesity, autism, depression, schizophrenia, and also help with web browsing and telepathy. Disabled and healthy people are the targets of these devices.

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