3 People Have Gotten Cancer-Detecting Implants in Their Brains
A San Francisco startup with ties to Elon Musk’s Neuralink is pioneering a new approach to one of medicine’s hardest problems: brain cancer.
Coherence Neuro has begun human testing of its coin-sized brain implant, designed to detect and treat tumors using targeted electrical stimulation rather than traditional chemotherapy or radiation. The company temporarily placed the device in the brains of three patients already undergoing tumor removal surgery at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia. The implant remained in place for approximately 30 minutes as a critical safety check, ahead of plans for long-term permanent implantation in brain cancer patients.
The technology targets glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer with a median survival of just 15 to 18 months after diagnosis. Coherence’s device monitors the tumor site for electrical signals associated with cancer activity and responds with stimulation intended to disrupt tumor regrowth.
Dr. Murphy, a Neuralink clinical trial investigator, is slated to be involved in Coherence Neuro’s future human trials as the program expands to the United States.