New BCI Collective Champions Safety

Image credit: Robina Weermeijer via Unsplash

A US-based industry group has been established in collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to help accelerate the safety of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs).

Led by Mass General Brigham, the Implantable Brain-Computer Interface Collaborative Community (iBCI-CC) brings together clinicians, researchers, medtech manufacturers, end users and advocacy groups in a bid to deliver greater safety, inclusivity and transparency within the rapidly growing industry.

A recent landmark for the group was to successfully engage the FDA as one of its key participating stakeholders.

Founding member and Director of Massachusetts General Hospital’s Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Dr Leigh Hochberg said that championing safety was the ultimate goal of the iBCI-CC.

“As a neurointensive care physician, I know how many patients with neurologic disorders could benefit from these devices,” said Dr. Hochberg in a statement.

“Increasing discoveries in academia and the launch of multiple iBCI and related neurotech companies means that the time is right to identify common goals and metrics so that iBCIs are not only safe and effective, but also have thoroughly considered the design and function preferences of the people who hope to use them.”

Read the full press announcement for further information.