NR Times explores the latest developments in the field of neurotechnology – from the funding of precision neurotechnologies that aim to transform the treatment of epilepsy to using the brain to fly drones.
Nerve stimulation technology for chronic pain trial completed
Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) for the treatment of chronic pain has completed a first-in-human clinical study.
The Nervonik PNS device, developed by Nervonik, utilises proprietary technology that involves applying highly controlled electrical currents to nerves in the body, which modulate pain signals and provide pain relief.
For the feasibility study, patients with chronic shoulder or knee pain had small wires, called leads, surgically implanted, utilising fluoroscopy and ultrasound to target multiple nerves.
The leads were then connected to miniaturised implantable pulse generators, which are wirelessly powered by a small, programmable, wearable device. The stimulation parameters were customised for each patient via a dedicated app to achieve optimal effectiveness.
Nervonik has said that results from the study are being compiled and will be presented in early 2025.
Funding for precision neurotechnologies
The Epilepsy Research Institute has been granted £18m from the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) to support the development of potentially transformative projects to address pressing neurological and neuropsychiatric challenges, with a specific focus on epilepsy.
Three projects that have received funding. The first to receive funding is the Minimally invasive self-regulating gene therapy for neuropsychiatric disorders project, which aims to develop advanced gene therapies to stabilise brain activity and treat conditions such as epilepsy, schizophrenia, and dementia.
The second is the NEUROBOT: Neural Microbots for Closed Loop Modulation project, which aims to create tiny neural robots (neurobots) to improve epilepsy treatment; and, the final is the Blood-brain-barrier crossing cell-type specific AAVs to interface with the brain, which aims to develop a safer, more effective way to deliver gene therapies to the brain.
License secured for brain stimulating technology
Neurotech company Grey Matter Neurosciences has licensed an advanced ultrasound technology developed at Sunnybrook Research Institute.
The ultrasound technology can be used to non-invasively perform precise stimulation anywhere in the brain, offering a promising therapeutic approach for enhancing cognition in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
Paralysed man flies drone using a brain chip
A 69-year-old paralysed man has successfully flown a virtual drone by thinking about moving his fingers thanks to an AI-powered brain chip as part of the BrainGate2 clinical trials.
According to Michigan University, the research focused on how neural signals could be coupled with machine learning to provide new options for external device control for people with neurological injuries or disease.
New collaboration to advance brain-computer interface technology
Brain-computer interface (BCI) company Synchron has entered into a new collaboration with Team Gleason – a foundation dedicated to improving the lives of people living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) – to raise awareness of Synchron’s BCI Community.
The company has said that the BCI Community aims to bring people living with disabilities, care partners, and clinicians together to learn how BCI is being designed to provide autonomy to people with limited mobility and to inform people about upcoming clinical trial opportunities.
The company recently showcased its implantable BCI, powered by NVIDIA Holoscan, at the 2025 JP Morgan Healthcare Conference.
