Advancing Neurotechnology Responsibly: The Power of Collaboration

Innovation in brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) is accelerating at an extraordinary pace. In just the last few weeks, reports have surfaced of advances in experimental implanted devices that enable people to regain speech or mobility. These breakthroughs are inspiring—and they raise important questions about how to ensure neurotechnologies evolve in ways that are safe, rooted in the needs of real people, and accessible to all.

Interdisciplinary collaboration can be a powerful answer both to ethical challenges and to fostering real world application of emerging technologies. In 2023, the Dana Foundation invested in the implantable BCI Collaborative Community (iBCI-CC), the first-ever initiative to facilitate cross-disciplinary dialogue and innovative engagement approaches to building, assessing, and regulating intracortical BCIs.

The iBCI-CC is led by Leigh Hochberg, M.D., Ph.D., an internationally respected leader in BCI development and clinical testing and director of the Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery at Massachusetts General Hospital; Jennifer French, MBA, executive director of the Neurotech Network and a Paralympic silver medalist; and Joe Lennerz, M.D., Ph.D., a regulatory science expert and director of the Pathology Innovation Collaborative Community. Their work brings together scientists, engineers, clinicians, industry, regulators, and people affected by neurological conditions to shape the future of implanted BCI research and development.

The iBCI-CC is unique in that it operates outside of any one institution or company. It is a neutral, sustained platform for identifying shared challenges and producing public-facing outputs—from best practices to outcome measures, to pre-competitive trial design strategies. In just two years, it has brought together more than 80 participating organizations and 350 members, and it is already making measurable progress.

The iBCI-CC recently launched working groups focused on ethics, privacy, and user autonomy and built bridges across industry, academia, government, and patient communities by providing a shared space where multiple perspectives can shape approaches and outcomes. Of special note, it also developed the first comprehensive matrix of patient-centered iBCI clinical outcome measures that describe how an individual feels and functions. This is crucial because clear clinical endpoints are essential for moving neurotechnology from the lab to real-world applications. They form the backbone of regulatory approval pathways, helping researchers design trials that meet regulatory standards and paving the way for responsible clinical adoption.

The establishment of clinical outcome measures, in close collaboration with people with lived experiences with implanted devices, is critically important for the responsible development of these technologies. Outcome measures are foundational to the development of new standards that drive innovation and improve access for individuals with neurological conditions. They provide the shared understanding that prevents fragmented progress and unintended consequences, ensuring that innovation doesn’t outpace our ability to guide it safely and meet the needs of the public. The remarkable speed at which these measures were developed is the outcome of the group’s commitment to working together under the precept that collaboration is required to address both great opportunities and great challenges. It’s also underpinned by the Dana Foundation’s commitment to building trust and transparency through deep-listening approaches that surface shared values and areas of greatest alignment.

The collaborative community model is a powerful reminder that people, not just protocols, can shape the future of technology…before it shapes us. And trust is what allows that future to serve us all. Initiatives like the iBCI-CC demonstrate what’s possible when technical expertise is paired with humility, transparency, and a willingness to work across disciplines. I encourage you to explore the iBCI-CC’s work and meet some of the leaders behind it.