MaxHodak’s Science Corp. is preparing to place its first sensor in a human brain

At a glance:

• Science Corp., founded by former Neuralink president Max Hodak, is preparing to implant its first biohybrid brain‑computer sensor in a human brain.
• The device, called PRIMA, uses 520 recording electrodes and lab‑grown neurons and is slated for testing on stroke patients in 2027 without FDA approval.
• Dr. Murat Günel, Yale neurosurgery chair, will advise the trials and envisions treating conditions such as Parkinson’s and spinal injuries.

Company background and funding

Science Corporation was launched in 2021 by Max Hodak, who previously served as president of Neuralink. In the most recent financing round, the company raised $230 million in a Series C that valued it at $1.5 billion. The capital injection came after Science acquired the PRIMA technology, originally developed for restoring vision in people with macular degeneration, and has since advanced the device through clinical trials with the aim of broader European rollout once regulatory clearance is achieved, potentially as early as this year. Hodak’s trajectory includes stints in graduate neuroscience labs, founding a biotech‑computing startup, and co‑founding Neuralink alongside Elon Musk. His long‑term goal is to create reliable communication links between computers and the human brain for both therapeutic and enhancement purposes. This ambition frames the current push toward a biohybrid interface that blends organic neurons with electronic circuitry.

Biohybrid sensor technology

Unlike Neuralink’s electrodes that are inserted directly into brain tissue, Science’s sensor is positioned beneath the skull but sits on the cortical surface, a design the company says reduces surgical risk. The implant contains 520 recording electrodes packed into an area roughly the size of a pea, allowing it to capture neural activity without penetrating deep tissue. The sensor’s core innovation is a layer of lab‑grown neurons that can be activated with pulses of light, enabling a more natural interface between electronics and the brain’s own wiring. In a 2024 working paper the team demonstrated safe implantation in mice and observed measurable brain activity, a result that the company says validates the biohybrid approach.

• 520 recording electrodes
• Lab‑grown neurons integrated for natural signal transmission
• Light‑stimulable neural interface
• Implantation under the skull, surface‑level placement
• Targeted initially at stroke patients requiring craniotomy
• 30 researchers on the development team
• 2024 working paper documenting mouse results

Clinical goals and applications

If the technology proves successful, the sensor could address a range of neurological disorders. Early applications may include delivering mild electrical stimulation to damaged brain or spinal cord cells to promote regeneration, as well as monitoring activity in patients with brain tumors to provide seizure warnings to caregivers. A more ambitious target is Parkinson’s disease, where current therapies such as deep brain stimulation only mitigate symptoms and do not halt progression. By combining electronic stimulation with transplanted biological cells, the biohybrid system aims to protect neural circuits and possibly stop disease advancement, offering a paradigm shift beyond symptomatic relief.

Regulatory and ethical considerations

Science has indicated it will not pursue FDA approval for the initial human trials, arguing that the tiny device poses no significant risk to patients. The first participants are expected to be individuals already undergoing major brain surgery, such as stroke victims who require removal of part of the cranium to reduce swelling. Dr. Günel noted that the team is already consulting with medical ethics boards that oversee human subject research, and he described the upcoming 2027 trial start as ‘optimistic’ but achievable if safety data continue to accumulate. The ethical framework will focus on informed consent and long‑term monitoring of neural integration.

Industry context and competition

The neurotechnology landscape is crowded, with Neuralink, Synchron, and Blackrock Neurotech all pursuing brain‑computer interface solutions for ALS, spinal injury, and other conditions. While these firms have demonstrated feasibility in decoding neural signals, each faces its own regulatory hurdles and limited patient pools, making Science’s surface‑level approach a distinct strategic angle. Investors and regulators alike are watching how quickly these platforms can move from animal studies to human trials, especially as public interest in human enhancement grows. Success for Science could accelerate funding for biohybrid research and reshape expectations around how quickly a brain‑machine link can be commercialized.