Science Corporation has enlisted leading neurobiologist Murat Gunel to initiate clinical trials for a brain-computer interface (BCI). This was reported by TechCrunch.
The startup was founded by Max Hodak, former president and co-founder of Neuralink. Gunel, head of the neurosurgery department at Yale School of Medicine, joined the project as a scientific advisor after two years of discussions.
The goal of this collaboration is to surgically implant the first sensor into a patient's brain for a future interface that will merge lab-grown neurons with electronics.
Founded in 2021, Science recently completed a Series C funding round, raising $230 million at a valuation of $1.5 billion.
The company's flagship product is PRIMA, a device designed to restore vision for individuals blinded by macular degeneration or similar conditions.
Science acquired this technology in 2024 and plans to expand its application in Europe following approval from local regulators.
Visionary Goals
Hodak has set ambitious targets for the startup: to create reliable communication channels between computers and the brain for treating severe diseases, and eventually to enhance human capabilities, potentially adding new senses.
Neuralink and other organizations have successfully monitored brain activity using electronic sensors. Users with BCI implants can control computers or display words on a screen simply by thinking about them.
However, the commercialization of these devices remains uncertain due to regulatory hurdles and a relatively small patient population.
Hodak views the traditional invasive method using metal electrodes as a dead end, as it eventually leads to tissue damage and impaired function of the implant itself.
The Science team has chosen a different approach.
“The idea of utilizing natural connections through neurons to create a biological interface between electronics and the human brain is brilliant,” said Gunel.
Neuron Integration
Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer Alan Mardinly leads the development of the hybrid sensor with a team of 30 researchers. The final version of the device will incorporate lab-grown neurons.
These nerve cells are designed to naturally integrate with the brain's neurons, forming a bridge between biology and electronics. They can be stimulated with light pulses.
In 2024, the startup published results from successful testing of the foundational technology on mice. Currently, engineers are focused on creating prototypes and developing cell cultivation methods that meet strict medical standards.
Gunel will advise the team as they prepare for human clinical trials. Discussions are underway with ethics committees overseeing human experimentation.
The first step will involve testing an advanced sensor without integrated neurons within a living human brain.
Future Plans
Unlike Neuralink, which embeds neurointerfaces directly into tissue, Science places its device on the surface of the brain beneath the skull. This approach is believed to reduce risks for patients.
The team aims to find suitable patients undergoing significant surgical procedures. For instance, these could be individuals recovering from a stroke who require part of their skull to be removed to alleviate brain swelling.
Gunel proposes placing the sensor on the surface of the cerebral cortex to practically assess the safety and effectiveness of reading neural activity.
If successful, the BCI system could assist in treating neurological disorders. One of the initial applications would involve gentle electrical stimulation of damaged brain or spinal cord cells to promote recovery.
More complex scenarios include monitoring neurological activity in patients with tumors, allowing medical staff to be alerted to impending seizures.
In the longer term, the interface could potentially be used to halt the progression of Parkinson's disease.
Gunel stated that, in an optimistic scenario, clinical trials for the device could begin in 2027.
Previously, a BCI user, Galen Buckwalter, learned to create music using the power of thought.