Neuralink, the neurotechnology company co-founded by Elon Musk, is set to initiate clinical trials in the United Kingdom to explore whether its brain-computer interface (BCI) chip can assist individuals with severe paralysis in controlling devices through thought alone.
Highlights
- UK Expansion: Neuralink is launching its first human brain-computer interface (BCI) trials outside the U.S., targeting patients with severe paralysis in the UK.
- GB PRIME Trial: The UK-based feasibility study, led by UCLH and Newcastle Hospitals, uses the N1 implant with over 1,000 electrodes inserted via a robotic surgical system.
- Assistive Tech Focus: The trial aims to evaluate if the implant can enable paralyzed individuals to control digital devices and environments using only thought.
- Proven Outcomes: Neuralink has already enabled five U.S. patients to control computers and household devices, including cursor navigation and independent texting.
- First Female Milestone: Audrey Crews became the first woman to regain typing ability using Neuralink after over 20 years of paralysis.
- Funding Surge: Neuralink raised $650M in Series E funding, bringing total investment to $1.3B. Backers include Sequoia, Thrive, and ARK Invest.
- Regulatory Challenges: The company overcame earlier FDA concerns involving implant safety, battery risks, and wire migration to receive U.S. approval in 2024.
- Ethical Debates: Ongoing discussions center around data privacy, informed consent, and the psychological impacts of neurotech implants.
- Competitive Landscape: Other BCI players like Synchron, Paradromics, and BrainGate are also running trials with less invasive or alternate technologies.
The company is collaborating with University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to conduct the UK-based study.
The trial aims to enroll participants affected by spinal cord injuries and neurodegenerative conditions such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), in an effort to evaluate how brain-controlled interfaces might enhance interaction with digital tools and physical environments.
This marks Neuralink’s first clinical trial outside the United States, following human trials that began domestically in 2024 after the company resolved initial concerns raised by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The FDA had previously declined Neuralink’s application in 2022, citing safety issues that were later addressed.
Currently, five individuals with paralysis are using Neuralink’s implant to control digital systems, offering preliminary evidence of the technology’s potential.
While the system remains in the experimental phase, the UK trial represents a broader attempt to test its safety and functionality within different healthcare ecosystems.
🇬🇧 GB PRIME Trial in the UK
The UK study is titled GB PRIME, a multi-site feasibility trial led by UCLH in collaboration with Newcastle Hospitals. The trial positions the UK as the first European country to host a human BCI implant study of this kind.
It will utilize the N1 implant, which contains over 1,000 hair-thin electrodes. These are robotically inserted using Neuralink’s R1 surgical robot to detect cortical signals from patients experiencing paralysis or motor neuron disease.
The goal is to evaluate both the safety of the procedure and the practical usability of the device within the UK’s healthcare framework.
Cursor Control to Courier
Five individuals have received Neuralink implants to date, with varied but notable outcomes.
- Noland Arbaugh, the first recipient, was able to regain cursor and typing control. He reportedly set a new record for cursor speed using only brain activity.
- RJ, the fifth participant and a military veteran, achieved independent control over household devices like his TV and smartphone through the implant.
- In July 2025, Audrey Crews became the first female Neuralink recipient known to have used the device to type her own name after over 20 years of paralysis—highlighting tangible, real-world applications of BCI technology.
Financial Momentum Fuels Expansion
In early 2025, Neuralink raised $650 million in Series E funding, bringing its total funding to approximately $1.3 billion and placing its estimated valuation near $9 billion.
According to sources citing PitchBook, this latest funding round is closely tied to Neuralink’s expansion into global clinical markets, including the UK. Investors include ARK Invest, Sequoia Capital, and Thrive Capital.
The financial growth supports the company’s shift from prototype development toward broader-scale clinical testing and future commercialization.
Regulatory Roadblocks and Ethical Conversations
Neuralink’s U.S. trials were initially delayed in 2023 after the FDA flagged several safety concerns—such as risks related to wire migration, battery hazards, and issues around safe removal of the implant. Approval was granted only after these issues were resolved.
Beyond safety, ethical debates continue around long-term impacts. Experts have raised concerns regarding informed consent, psychological implications, and data privacy.
As BCIs evolve into tools that could affect personal identity and autonomy, questions persist about how users experience these technologies on spiritual, emotional, and social levels.
BCI Is Competitive
- Synchron is developing its Stentrode™, a vascular-based implant that does not require open-brain surgery.
- Paradromics has received Breakthrough Device Designation from the FDA for its Connexus® system.
- Other companies like Precision Neuroscience and BrainGate are also conducting human trials using second-generation BCI systems that aim for high fidelity and reduced invasiveness.
These companies are exploring alternative approaches that may offer easier or more scalable implantation methods compared to Neuralink’s robotic surgery model.
Why the UK Move Matters
Launching the GB PRIME trial with UCLH signals Neuralink’s broader intent to expand beyond the U.S. and gain regulatory traction in new territories.
The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) infrastructure and strong clinical oversight add institutional credibility, potentially paving the way for integration into public healthcare frameworks.
Establishing a presence at UCLH’s Washington Clinic could position it as a European hub for advanced neurotechnologies, accelerating the availability of BCI innovations for global users.
