This project received funding in 2017- 2018 from NFMRI to support safety validation of the StentrodeTM, which was developed by A/Prof. Nicholas Opie and his team. The StentrodeTM is an endovascular brain-machine interface that can record neural signals from within a blood vessel. This technology is designed to restore instrumental activities of daily living in people with paralysis by sensing brain activity and translating these signals into discrete electrical commands which enable direct brain control of computers and assistive technology.
In 2019, A/Prof. Opie and his team have successfully implanted the StentrodeTM into four participants with from severe paralysis due to motor neuron disease, enabling them to control a computer with their mind. They can use the system independently and at home to communicate using emails, text and messaging applications and complete daily tasks such as online banking and shopping.
The StentrodeTM has also recently been granted Breakthrough Device designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a status reserved for innovative solutions addressing irreversibly debilitating conditions.
This research has been running in parallel with the neurovascular bioelectronics medicine company, Synchron, Inc., he co-founded and directs with neurointerventionalist A/Prof Thomas Oxley. Synchron is developing bloodstream-enabled solutions for previously-untreatable nervous system conditions. The development of this technology platform was enabled by seed funding from the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), among other competitive Australian grants. Synchron raised over $10M in their Series A fundraise, and is poised to close a large Series B round to expand their clinics to sites in NSW and QLD, and conduct an early feasibility study in the USA.
Headquartered in Silicon Valley, California with presence in Brooklyn, New York and R&D facilities in Melbourne, Australia, they have realised clinical utility of the world’s first endovascular neural interface. Through private funding and the award of competitive grants including an NHMRC Fellowship (Opie), the University of Melbourne and Synchron will continue translation of their technology to restore independence and communication to people with paralysis, while also conducting ground-breaking Australian research enhancing the capabilities of the Stentrode system to treat other neurological conditions such as epilepsy, depression and Parkinson’s disease.
Other key highlights arising from this grant include:
- Synchron receiving nearly $1 million in funding from the Medical Research Future Fund
- $1.5 million NHMRC grant received by the University of Melbourne to expand the clinical study of the StentrodeTM
