BioMedTech Horizons grant to develop a miniaturised neural implant
The Australian Government is investing $18.8 million to boost efforts towards finding better treatments for cancer, epilepsy, stroke, paralysis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), brain injuries, back pain and other chronic diseases.
University of Melbourne based startup, Carbon Cybernetics, has been awarded a prestigious BioMedTech Horizons grant to develop a highly specialised neural implant for epilepsy.
Carbon Cybernetics have first hand experience with human grade implantable devices and the limitations preventing their widespread use. With over a decade of experience developing implantable electronics, Carbon Cybernetics is dedicated towards developing carbon-based implants for carbon-based lifeforms such as humans.
Small devices, huge potential
“Our neural implant is so small that a sugar ant is a giant by comparison. The small size of our device will reduce surgical complications and discomfort. The device has 32 tiny, carbon fibre electrodes that record activity from individual neurons in the brain.The interactions between these neurons can tell us a whole lot about brain function and health. This information can be used to predict epileptic seizures, or the onset of other neurological events”
The neural implant developed by Carbon Cybernetics is so small that a sugar ant is a giant by comparison.
Looking to the future in epilipsy treatment
Dr Maturana said that the BioMedTech Horizons grant will be used to demonstrate safety and long term reliability of their device. Carbon Cybernetics expects to begin human trials in 2023.
“Australia loses $12B annually to epilepsy. The majority of this cost arises from the unpredictability of seizures. Carbon Cybernetics’ neural implant has the potential to completely transform management of epilepsy by anticipating how and when to administer treatments, making life predictable again” - Dr Matias Maturana
If you’d like to read more about the BioMedTech Horizons program and the successful applicants you can read the press release here.
