Neuralink’s first human brain-implant procedure in its PRIME Study took place at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. That answers the location question behind the 2024 announcement; it does not mean every Neuralink study is based there.
Where did Neuralink’s PRIME Study take place?
Neuralink said its first human implantation was performed at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. Barrow’s PRIME Study listing also names Phoenix as the study location. Neuralink’s April 12, 2024 progress update identifies Barrow as the site and says the institute was selected for its experience caring for people with complex neurological conditions. Barrow’s study listing provides the site information.
What is the PRIME Study?
PRIME stands for Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface. It is an investigational medical-device study evaluating the safety of Neuralink’s N1 implant and R1 surgical robot, as well as the brain-computer interface’s initial functionality. Neuralink’s stated initial goal is to enable people with paralysis to control a computer cursor or keyboard using their thoughts. Those are study aims, not proof of an established treatment or a guaranteed outcome for participants. Neuralink’s clinical-trial information describes the study.
Does Phoenix host every Neuralink trial?
No. Phoenix is the answer for the PRIME location story and the first human implantation—not a universal location for Neuralink research. Neuralink’s current trial pages describe distinct studies and sites:
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- PRIME: The first human implantation was at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix.
- CONVOY: Neuralink’s Device Control page names Barrow Neurological Institute and the University of Miami as study sites.
- GB-PRIME: Neuralink’s announcement names University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Great Britain.
These are separate programs; a site named for one study should not be assumed to enroll participants for another. See the Device Control and clinical-trials pages and the GB-PRIME announcement for the distinctions.
How can someone check whether PRIME is enrolling?
Barrow’s listing describes PRIME as open and enrolling, but recruitment status and eligibility can change. Check the current Barrow PRIME listing or contact the study team for up-to-date participation information. A diagnosis of paralysis alone does not establish eligibility.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Barrow said about the procedure
In Neuralink’s April 2024 update, Barrow president and CEO Michael T. Lawton, MD, called the operation “an impressive engineering feat and an important advancement in neurosurgery because it paves the way for new, non-biological treatments for patients with severe neurological impairments.” That is Lawton’s characterization of the procedure, not an independent finding that the device is effective as a treatment. Read the update.
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