Elon Musk's Neuralink has gained approval to initiate a clinical trial in Canada, marking the first such trial outside of the United States for the brain-computer interface company. The trial will be conducted at the University Health Network (UHN) hospital, specifically at Toronto Western Hospital.
Neuralink's Canadian Clinical Trial
The "Canadian Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface" (CAN-PRIME) study will involve Canadian residents suffering from tetraparesis or tetraplegia resulting from cervical spinal cord injury or the neurological disease ALS. Participants must also have a life expectancy of at least 12 months. The trial will utilize Neuralink's N1 brain implant, which features 64 threads, and the R1 robot, which is used for precise implantation of the device into the brain.
Earlier this year, Neuralink reported that an American patient with the implant was able to control a computer mouse cursor using only their thoughts and was also able to play video games and online chess. Neuralink also received approval last month for Blindsight, an implant designed to restore sight.
23andMe and Mirador Therapeutics Collaboration
23andMe, following the closure of its drug therapeutics unit and a significant reduction in its workforce, has announced a research partnership with Mirador Therapeutics. Mirador Therapeutics is a precision medicine company focused on immunology and inflammation.
Mirador will use aggregated, de-identified genetic and phenotypic data from 23andMe's research database. This data will be combined with Mirador's Mirador 360 development "engine" to advance its precision medicines for immunology and inflammation. The specifics of the financial terms and duration of the agreement have not been disclosed.
