INBRAIN Neuroelectronics achieves the world’s first application of a graphene brain-computer interface in a human patient

INBRAIN Neuroelectronics —based in the Barcelona Science Park and founded as a spin-off from ICN2 and ICREA, with the participation of IMB-CNM-CSIC— has announced the first cortical interface procedure in humans in a patient undergoing brain tumor resection. The revolutionary clinical procedure took place at the Salford Royal Hospital in Manchester and confirms its position at the forefront of precision neurology.

The procedure is part of a clinical study sponsored by the University of Manchester and led by ICREA Prof. Kostas Kostarelos, ICN2 group leader, Professor of Nanomedicine at the University of Manchester and co-Founder of INBRAIN, and Dr David Coope, neurosurgeon in the Manchester Centre for Clinical Neuroscience. He was responsible for leading the surgery at Salford Royal Hospital.

This intervention was performed on a patient undergoing resection (removal) of a brain tumour. INBRAIN’s BCI technology was used to help the surgeon perform a more precise resection by accurately monitoring brain activity and helping to distinguish between cancerous and healthy tissue.

This achievement shows the enormous potential of BCI technology, which goes beyond decoding and translating brain signals. This technology has become a powerful tool for precision surgery. The implant developed by INBRAIN exploits graphene’s unique electronic and mechanical properties, making it ideal for innovation in neurotechnology.

“The world’s first human application of a graphene-based BCI highlights the transformative impact of graphene-based neural technologies in medicine. This clinical milestone opens a new era for BCI technology, paving the way for advancements in both neural decoding and its application as a therapeutic intervention,” said Carolina Aguilar, CEO and co-founder of INBRAIN Neuroelectronics.