State of cyborg
science & technologies

We focus on technologies that lie on the critical path to accomplish our mission, balancing bold, long-term goals with short-term impact and commercial viability.

Notable breakthroughs

A man lived 555 days with artificial heart

And even played basketball, while waiting for transplant

Recovery of lung function after 149 days on ECMO

36-year old man with COVID-19 stayed on ECMO long-term

Human liver preserved ExVivo for 17 days

36-year old man with COVID-19 stayed on ECMO long-term

Survival Kit

Normothermic organ perfusion

Normothermic organ perfusion (NTP) has evolved from a short-term preservation technique into a platform for indefinite extracorporeal support. Currently, its primary application is in organ transplantation, where it has significantly reduced organ wastage by extending the viability of donor organs beyond the limits of static cold storage. Traditionally, over 90% of potential donor organs are discarded due to ischemic damage before transplantation. NTP addresses this issue by maintaining continuous oxygenated blood circulation at body temperature, preventing ischemic injury and allowing real-time assessment of organ function. This has led to improved transplant success rates and a reduction in post-transplant complications.

Modern NTP systems—such as the TransMedics Organ Care System—are now used for hearts, lungs, livers, and kidneys, sustaining these organs for over 24 hours with minimal ischemic injury. Research has extended these durations further: whole pig livers have been perfused for a week, and Yale’s BrainEx study demonstrated partial metabolic restoration in post-mortem pig brains after six hours of normothermic circulation. These advancements suggest that, with continued development, long-term extracorporeal survival is achievable.

For permanent head support, NTP must evolve beyond transplantation and become a fully autonomous organ replacement system, capable of sustaining continuous circulation, oxygenation, metabolic clearance, and neurochemical regulation indefinitely. This transition requires scalable oxygenation systems, next-generation filtration methods, and adaptive metabolic control, allowing a disembodied head to be maintained in homeostasis for extended periods.

Tech in progress

Our focus

Rodents
Mammals
Humans
Clinicals
Market
Brain
6h+ Post Mortem
Bexorg , Yale
6h+ Post Mortem
Bexorg, Yale
Detached head
2h+
1928, Brukhonenko
Heart
24h
TransMedics
6h
TransMedics
Liver
13d
Puliano
4d
Now, Puliano
24h
TransMedics
Kidney
7d
N. Won
24h
XVIVO
  1. Oxygenation & Circulation Module

The heart and lungs are responsible for maintaining perfusion pressure, oxygen delivery, and carbon dioxide removal. In an NTP system, these functions are replaced by a combination of pumps, membrane oxygenators, and dynamic pressure regulators. Blood or perfusate is continuously circulated using a centrifugal or pulsatile pump, which must provide stable, low-shear flow to avoid damaging red blood cells while maintaining sufficient cerebral perfusion pressure. Too much pressure leads to capillary damage and edema, while too little results in ischemic hypoxia. Unlike standard extracorporeal circulation, which is optimized for the whole body, an isolated brain requires tight autoregulatory control over flow dynamics, mimicking cerebrovascular resistance mechanisms that are lost once the body is removed.

Gas exchange is achieved through a membrane oxygenator, similar to those used in ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), which facilitates O₂ delivery and CO₂ clearance. Long-term operation requires antifouling membranes resistant to thrombosis and biofilm formation, as well as automated pH buffering and CO₂ regulation to prevent respiratory acidosis. In a normal body, the lungs constantly adjust ventilation to maintain acid-base balance; in an NTP system, real-time pH sensors must dynamically control bicarbonate infusion and CO₂ extraction rates to ensure metabolic stability.

Current oxygenator membranes are typically rated for weeks of use, after which efficiency declines due to protein deposition, fibrin buildup, and microthrombi. For indefinite support, future designs must incorporate self-cleaning surfaces, advanced polymer coatings, and regenerative gas exchange membranes capable of long-term operation without degradation.

  1. Detox Module

In addition to oxygen and nutrients, the brain requires continuous removal of toxic metabolic byproducts that would otherwise accumulate and cause neurotoxicity. In an NTP system, the liver and kidneys’ excretory roles must be replaced by a combination of filtration, enzymatic detoxification, and bioartificial hepatic clearance. While metabolic functions such as hormone regulation and protein synthesis are critical, they are distinct from the pure detoxification processes addressed by this module.

The kidney’s excretory role is addressed through continuous-flow dialysis and hemofiltration systems, which filter out urea, creatinine, potassium, and other small solutes in real time. Unlike conventional dialysis, which requires intermittent sessions, this system must operate continuously, dynamically adjusting filtration rates based on real-time electrolyte and osmolarity sensors. The challenge is preventing electrolyte depletion and unintended protein loss, requiring selective filtration membranes that retain essential plasma components while removing waste.

The liver’s detoxification function is more complex, involving the clearance of ammonia, xenobiotics, and metabolic byproducts through specialized enzymatic pathways. Bioartificial liver devices—such as the ELAD (Extracorporeal Liver Assist Device) and MARS (Molecular Adsorbents Recirculating System)—have demonstrated partial detoxification support in liver failure patients but degrade over time due to cellular exhaustion or biofouling. More advanced approaches involve immobilized enzyme reactors, where synthetic enzymatic systems replace cytochrome P450-mediated detoxification, breaking down ammonia, bilirubin, and drug metabolites without requiring viable hepatocytes. Ammonia clearance is particularly critical, as even slight elevations can lead to cerebral edema, neurotransmitter imbalances, and fatal neurotoxicity.

Long-term detoxification in an NTP system requires:

  • Smart filtration membranes that selectively remove waste while retaining critical plasma components.

  • Enzyme-based detox reactors capable of continuous drug and ammonia clearance without cell degradation.

  • Real-time adaptive control over clearance rates to prevent imbalances in electrolytes, acid-base levels, and osmotic pressure.

By integrating these components into a closed-loop detoxification module, an NTP system can maintain a stable internal environment.

Strong solution available

Weak solution availalble

Critical tech in progress

Tech in progress

Concept
Rodents
Mammals
Humans
Clinicals
Market
Heart
555 days
Syncardia, Wear
Lungs
30 days
ModELAS, Wear
151 days
ECMO, Stay
Kidney
?
2023, Redial, Wear
Decades
Dialisis, Visit, 60k$ / year
Liver
7 days
2023, Wearable
21 days
MARS, Stay

Blood Substitute

Blood is a complex, multi-functional fluid responsible for oxygen transport, immune defense, coagulation, and metabolic regulation. Existing synthetic blood products have been developed primarily for short-term transfusions, but a full-spectrum replacement suitable for continuous circulation remains an unsolved challenge. While red blood cell (RBC) substitutes have seen limited clinical success, plasma components, immune factors, and coagulation elements remain difficult to replicate at scale.

For long-term perfusion applications, a scalable blood substitute must incorporate a stable oxygen carrier, synthetic plasma components, clotting factors, and a functional immune system. Unlike donor-derived blood, which requires constant replenishment, a synthetic alternative must be renewable, biocompatible and scalable. The challenge lies in engineering a closed-loop perfusate that mimics the cellular and molecular complexity of natural blood, ensuring that tissue oxygenation, immune surveillance, and coagulation homeostasis are maintained over long durations.

1. Oxygen Carrier

The primary role of RBCs is oxygen transport, facilitated by hemoglobin (Hb). Current artificial oxygen carriers fall into two categories:

  1. Hemoglobin-Based Oxygen Carriers (HBOCs): Free hemoglobin is toxic due to scavenging of nitric oxide (NO), leading to vasoconstriction and oxidative damage. Modern HBOCs are chemically modified or encapsulated to prevent renal toxicity and improve circulation half-life. Despite progress, issues with oxidative instability and rapid clearance remain.

  2. Perfluorocarbon (PFC) Emulsions: PFCs are inert, oxygen-dissolving compounds that carry O₂ and CO₂ without relying on hemoglobin. They can achieve higher oxygen solubility than plasma but require supplemental oxygen administration to be effective. Long-term use is hindered by lipid accumulation and systemic clearance challenges.

A scalable oxygen carrier must match RBC efficiency, avoid oxidative toxicity, and integrate seamlessly into a synthetic plasma matrix. Recent work in Hb-polymer conjugates, liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin, and engineered PFC nanoemulsions suggests that a hybrid system combining stabilized Hb with PFC-based gas transport may offer the best path toward long-term oxygenation stability.

  1. Plasma Factor Cocktails

Plasma is more than a transport medium—it carries proteins, electrolytes, hormones, and metabolic factors essential for tissue homeostasis. Current plasma expanders (e.g., saline, albumin solutions, hydroxyethyl starch) provide only volume replacement, lacking the complex regulatory components of natural plasma. A synthetic plasma substitute must contain:

  • Carrier Proteins (Albumin, Globulins): Required for osmotic balance and molecular transport. Recombinant albumin is available but costly and lacks full functional equivalence to human plasma.

  • Hormones & Growth Factors: Plasma regulates metabolism, wound healing, and immune responses. Maintaining stable levels of insulin, adrenal steroids, and cytokines is critical for long-term viability.

  • Buffering Systems: CO₂ transport and acid-base balance rely on bicarbonate and protein buffering. A scalable synthetic plasma must integrate real-time pH regulation to prevent metabolic acidosis.

Unlike blood transfusions, where fresh frozen plasma (FFP) replenishes lost proteins, a long-term synthetic plasma must be continuously regenerated in a closed-loop system. Advances in recombinant protein synthesis and metabolic bioreactors suggest that a modular approach—where individual plasma components are synthesized and replenished dynamically—may be the most feasible solution.

  1. Coagulation System

A functional blood substitute must prevent both uncontrolled bleeding and pathological clot formation. The human coagulation cascade is highly complex, requiring the coordinated interaction of platelets, clotting factors, and regulatory proteins. Current hemostatic substitutes include:

  • Recombinant Clotting Factors (e.g., rFVIIa, rFVIII): Used in hemophilia treatment, these provide selective coagulation support but lack full regulatory control over thrombotic risk.

  • Platelet Substitutes (Thrombomimetics): Engineered microparticles mimic platelet adhesion, but long-term circulation remains a challenge due to rapid clearance and immune recognition.

A scalable clotting system must dynamically balance pro-coagulant and anti-coagulant factors, preventing both spontaneous bleeding and thrombosis. Future designs will likely involve synthetic platelet analogs and self-regulating coagulation networks that mimic the natural feedback mechanisms of human hemostasis.

  1. Immune System

A synthetic blood substitute must incorporate functional immune components to provide infection resistance, inflammatory regulation, and tissue maintenance. Without an adaptive immune component, long-term perfusion would lead to persistent low-grade inflammation, accumulation of cellular waste, and increased susceptibility to infection.

Unlike red blood cells, which are functionally uniform, immune cells are highly specialized and dynamically regulated. Simply introducing generic white blood cells into a synthetic perfusate is not a viable approach, as natural leukocytes require a bone marrow niche for replenishment and thymic education for antigen recognition. Current research at Heidelberg University focuses on bottom-up synthetic immunity, where immune functions are constructed from molecular building blocks rather than relying on traditional cellular approaches. This method employs protein and peptide design, polymer synthesis, and DNA/RNA nanostructures to engineer nanoscale immune components capable of pathogen defense, inflammation control, and tissue repair. This work suggests that immune surveillance can be precisely controlled without living cells, making it a viable approach for long-term synthetic perfusates.

To replicate immune function in a synthetic system, the following components must be integrated:

  • Innate Immune Factors: Complement proteins, antimicrobial peptides, and cytokine signaling molecules provide broad-spectrum pathogen defense and inflammatory modulation. Research into synthetic complement systems and engineered cytokine circuits suggests that key innate immune responses can be chemically replicated, ensuring immune surveillance without excessive inflammation.

  • Adaptive Immunity (Antigen-Specific Response): The challenge of antigen recognition and immune memory in a synthetic system requires alternatives to T-cells and B-cells. Heidelberg’s research suggests that programmable immune nanostructures can bind and neutralize pathogens, mimicking natural antigen-antibody interactions. Another approach is ex vivo leukocyte bioreactors, where engineered immune cells continuously replenish active immune factors in circulation.

  • Tissue Maintenance & Debris Clearance: The immune system regulates angiogenesis, fibrosis, and apoptotic cell clearance. Macrophages and microglia remove dead cells and prevent toxic buildup. In a synthetic system, this function must be replaced by biodegradable immune nanocarriers that selectively clear cellular debris while preventing excessive inflammatory responses.

The biggest challenge in synthetic immunity is achieving self-regulation without triggering chronic inflammation. In natural immunity, regulation is tightly controlled by regulatory T-cells, cytokine feedback loops, and antigen presentation mechanisms. Synthetic immunity must integrate programmable immune interfaces, artificial antigen-recognition systems, and controlled inflammatory responses to function reliably in long-term circulation. Advances in bottom-up synthetic immunology and bioengineered immune modulators suggest that a fully synthetic immune system capable of continuous, autonomous operation may soon be feasible.

Strong solution available

Critical tech in progress

Tech in progress

Our focus

Concept
Rodents
Mammals
Humans
Clinicals
Market
Nutrients
Decades
Organic Derived
Oxygen Carriers
Recultivated Hemoglobin
for LEH / EM
Erythomer, Phase I
Grown RBCs, Phase I
LEH, Phase I
Days
PFCS
Hemostasis
Phase I
Plasma components
Recombinant Synthetic Plasma
Volume expanders
Separate proteins
Immunity
Lab grown universal immune cells
Volume expanders
Separate proteins

Automated Homeostatic Control

Maintaining physiological stability in a perfused head demands a closed-loop control system that continuously monitors and adjusts flow, pressure, blood chemistry, and neuroendocrine balance in real time. Unlike a traditional ICU monitor, which merely displays vitals, this controller must actively regulate flow rates, pressures, oxygenation, and hormone infusions to keep the brain within a precise metabolic range. Sensor arrays positioned throughout the perfusion circuit measure partial pressures of oxygen (pO₂) and carbon dioxide (pCO₂), pH, electrolytes, glucose, lactate, and hormone levels (e.g., cortisol). Machine-learning algorithms interpret these signals, modifying pump speeds, oxygenation rates, and exogenous hormone dosing as needed. This integration preserves both basic physiological needs and mood regulation, approximating the feedback loops once governed by a full body.

Data from these sensors feed into a central control algorithm, which calculates adjustments needed for pumps, oxygenators, and filtration units. For instance, if venous oxygen saturation drops below a threshold, the system can increase perfusion flow or oxygen fraction. If pH shifts, buffered solutions or selective removal of acidic byproducts can be triggered. Advanced implementations may leverage machine-learning models trained on large datasets to predict instability before it manifests, allowing proactive interventions.

Because the brain’s requirements vary dynamically—changing with levels of activity, temperature, and potentially circadian rhythms—the system must adapt continuously, not just at set intervals. It must also factor in immune regulation, ensuring that immune cells (natural or engineered) do not overly activate or cause inflammatory cascades. This is especially important when combining multiple artificial organ subsystems (e.g., bioartificial liver modules or hemofiltration units), each with its own operational parameters.

Ultimately, an effective control architecture will resemble a miniaturized “ICU in a box”, tightly coupling sensor readouts with automated actuation and comprehensive data logging. Such a platform is the linchpin of maintaining long-term cerebral viability, ensuring that the perfused head remains in a safe biochemical environment despite fluctuations in metabolic load or external conditions.

Spinal Cord Termination Interface (SCTI)

SCTI is essential to prevent proximal degeneration after complete spinal cord transection. When the spinal cord is transected, Wallerian degeneration progresses both distally and proximally, with proximal death reaching the brainstem and cortex, which can lead to fatal disruption of autonomic and sensorimotor circuits. Unlike peripheral nerve injuries, where Schwann cells promote regeneration, CNS neurons, while having the same regenerative capacity, are actively inhibited by astroglial scarring and neuroinflammatory responses. Without intervention, axonal degeneration spreads upward, leading to apoptosis of the involved neurons and loss of some brain function.

To prevent atrophy, an interface must be attached to the transected spinal cord that performs four main functions:

  • Axonal stabilization - preventing retrograde degeneration by maintaining the structural and biochemical integrity of transected axons.

  • Neurotrophic support - providing a continuous supply of growth factors (e.g., BDNF, GDNF, NT-3) to counteract the apoptotic signal and promote local survival of neuronal cell bodies in the brainstem.

  • Modulation of inflammation and scarring - suppressing excessive glial activation and limiting axonal retraction that occurs due to secondary immune-mediated injury.

  • Modulation of coordinated electrical activity that mimics somatic (sensorimotor) responses.

  • Existing spinal cord injury research has focused on regenerative scaffolds and biomaterial implants aimed at promoting axonal regrowth.

However, in the context of complete severance without a goal for reconnection, the goal shifts from regeneration to chronic stabilization. A viable approach involves a biocompatible neural interface combining:

  • Hydrogel-based or ECM-mimicking matrices to provide a physical barrier against further degeneration when integrated with native spinal cord tissue.

  • Slow-release neurotrophic factor depots or gene therapy vectors to maintain neuronal survival signals over the long term.

  • Anti-inflammatory coatings (e.g., IL-10, minocycline, or CSPG-neutralizing compounds) to prevent excessive gliosis and further degradation of adjacent neurons.

  • Electrically active conduits or bioelectronic implants to modulate neural activity and potentially enhance connectivity in the residual CNS.

Although no current technology directly addresses the problem of brainstem-protective interfaces for complete transection, research in neuroprotection, spinal cord injury stabilization, and chronic neural implants suggests that a hybrid biomaterial-pharmacological approach will be required to prevent fatal neurodegeneration following head-body separation. Further experimental work is needed to determine the precise mechanisms driving proximal death and to develop an effective long-term stabilization strategy.

Embodiment Suite

Interface

Designing a robust interface between a perfused human brain and an external mechanical body is the linchpin of any cyborg architecture. Current approaches rely on a combination of high-density electrode arrays (such as Utah arrays or micro-electrocorticography (ECoG) grids) and sophisticated signal processing to decode and encode neural activity. Decoding extracts motor intentions, language patterns, or other high-level cognitive signals from the cortex, typically focusing on regions such as the primary motor cortex (M1), premotor areas, or language‐associated regions (e.g., Broca’s area). Encoding performs the reverse: electrical stimulation in somatosensory or other relevant cortices to convey incoming stimuli such as touch, temperature, or even visual illusions. Although lab demonstrations have shown proof-of-concept control for robotic limbs and partial sensory feedback, the overall channel count (number of effective electrodes) remains a major limiting factor: the human motor cortex alone is home to millions of neurons, and most existing microelectrode systems provide on the order of a few hundred actively recorded channels.

Recent advances in flexible electronics and nanofabrication suggest that implantable arrays may soon be scaled to thousands or tens of thousands of electrodes, pushing towards finer granularity. Another key challenge is long-term biocompatibility: implanted arrays tend to accumulate scar tissue (gliosis), which reduces signal quality over time. Researchers are exploring bioinert coatings (e.g., parylene, polyimide, or graphene) to minimize tissue damage, as well as “soft” electrode materials that better match the mechanical properties of neural tissue. Meanwhile, specialized DSP (digital signal processing) chips and machine learning pipelines are being developed to handle real-time decoding and stimulation at ultra-low power, essential for an implant that cannot be easily swapped out. Ultimately, a successful interface must be high-bandwidth, durable, and adaptive enough to preserve signal integrity over years or decades—especially in a scenario where there are no peripheral nerves to augment or serve as fallback.

Strong solution available

Critical tech in progress

Tech in progress

Our focus

Mammals
Primates
Humans
Clinicals
Market
Sensorimotor
Cervical
Ecate
Upper
BrainGate
Lower
NeuroRestore
Speech
72 WPM
UCSF
72 WPM
BrainGate
Visual
8,192 pixels (90x90)
FlexLED by Science
378 electrodes
Pixium by Science
60 electrodes
🪦 Argus II, 120k$
Audio
Cochlear, Med L
$25k - $50k
Mimic
Niemenlehto
Konstantinidi

Sensing

In a brain-in-a-vat system, all external information must be captured by non-biological sensors and funneled into the brain through the aforementioned interface. This demands an entire ecosystem of electromechanical sensors replicating vision, hearing, touch, and potentially more nuanced senses (like temperature or proprioception). Vision currently presents one of the greatest hurdles, since the human eye functions at an equivalent resolution of millions of photoreceptors. Commercially available retinal implants—such as the Argus II—operate with only 60 electrodes, and even experimental cortical-based prosthetics rarely exceed a few hundred. Achieving near-natural vision requires a massive increase in effective electrode density and sophisticated image processing to map raw camera data onto neural spatiotemporal patterns that the visual cortex can interpret. Low-latency encoding is critical; even minor delays undermine the user’s spatial awareness and object recognition abilities.

For auditory input, the state-of-the-art is far more advanced: cochlear implants have become a mature, commercially viable solution. They use an electrode array inserted into the cochlea (or near the auditory nerve) to stimulate remaining nerve fibers. While this approach works for users who still have part of their auditory pathway intact, a brain-in-a-vat might instead rely on direct auditory cortex stimulation if the cochlea and auditory nerve are no longer connected. Tactile or proprioceptive sensing requires arrays of force, pressure, and angle sensors distributed across robotic limbs, all of which must be encoded as meaningful neural spike trains or microstimulation patterns. These signals must arrive at the correct cortical or subcortical region in real time to provide a natural sense of limb position and interaction forces. Without peripheral nerves, achieving convincing haptic “realness” becomes a purely cortical engineering problem, combining signal encoding, electrode placement, and adaptive calibration to match the user’s subjective experience.

Actuation / Movement

Restoring physical agency requires translating the user’s neural commands into mechanical motion—be it fine-grained manipulation of objects or whole-body locomotion via a humanoid or quadruped chassis. In laboratory settings, researchers have demonstrated direct neural control of multi-joint robotic arms, with participants able to grasp and move objects using only their thoughts. Companies like Boston Dynamics have pushed the envelope in dynamic balance and bipedal locomotion, while startups and research labs (including Tesla’s Optimus project) aim to build scalable humanoid platforms. The primary challenges lie in integrating high-level motor commands—decoded from the motor cortex or related areas—with low-level control algorithms that handle joint angles, torque, and real-time feedback from sensors. Such synergy often requires hierarchical control: machine-learning models interpret neural signals at the top level (e.g., “reach out and grasp”), then lower-level microcontrollers or AI processes handle details of balance, grip force, and collision avoidance.

Communication expands this concept to non-physical actions, such as speaking, writing, or more abstract forms of data transfer. While speech interfaces through the vocal tract are no longer feasible if only the head or brain and partial brainstem remain, direct decoding from speech-related cortical areas (e.g., Broca’s or Wernicke’s) can theoretically drive text output, synthetic voice generation, or shared digital environments. Research projects, such as those at UCSF or the BrainGate consortium, have already shown that neural speech prostheses can decode limited vocabularies at modest rates (e.g., tens of words per minute). Scaling up to conversational speeds and accuracy requires more sophisticated decoding algorithms (e.g., transformer models adapted for neural data) and potentially a denser electrode grid. Reliability under day-to-day conditions also remains a concern: neural signals drift over time, and subtle changes in electrode impedance can degrade decoding accuracy unless adaptive retraining or calibration routines are in place.

Ultimately, true cyborgization hinges on uniting these pieces into a seamless whole: a high-throughput interface that can accurately decode and encode neural signals; a rich sensor suite feeding realistic multimodal information into the brain; and robust robotic actuators combined with advanced control algorithms to enact movement and communication. Bridging the gap between proof-of-concept demos and a fully functional, long-lasting “artificial body” is a matter of engineering scale, medical risk management, and robust AI. Yet, advances in electrode technology, neural signal processing, and robotic hardware suggest that the path is gradually being paved toward a future in which preserving the head doesn’t mean losing the richness of real-world experience.

Merger

Neuromorphic Chips for Brain Replacemen

A brain-in-a-vat or a perfused head does not solve the problem of brain aging, degeneration, or damage. Even with perfect metabolic support, brain tissue accumulates damage over time, leading to cognitive decline and death. The only long-term solution is to develop neuromorphic prostheses capable of seamlessly replacing brain tissue, preserving cognition and supporting consciousness. This requires hardware that functions identically to biological neurons, supporting real-time learning, plasticity, and large-scale network integration.

Modern neuromorphic chips attempt to replicate spiking neural networks (SNNs), using event-driven, massively parallel architectures that mimic real neurons. Unlike conventional processors, these chips are optimized for low-power, real-time adaptation, making them candidates for cortical replacement:

  • Intel Loihi 2: Features 1 million spiking neurons with local plasticity rules, allowing on-chip learning without external updates.

  • IBM TrueNorth: A 1 million neuron, ultra-low-power chip, designed for efficient neural inference.

  • SpiNNaker (University of Manchester): A neuromorphic supercomputer with 1,000 interconnected cores, used to model large-scale brain activity.

  • BrainScaleS (Heidelberg University): A hybrid analog-digital system that accelerates spiking computations and supports synaptic plasticity.

These chips can simulate biological computation, but they lack biocompatibility, scalable neural interfacing, and real-time bidirectional adaptation—critical for seamless brain integration.

Replacing neural tissue requires high-bandwidth, biocompatible interfaces that allow real-time communication between biological and artificial neurons:

  • Neuropixels (IMEC): High-density neural probes with 10,000+ recording sites, enabling precise mapping of neuronal activity.

  • Paradromics & Synchron: Developing high-bandwidth BCIs to capture and decode complex brain signals.

  • Cortical Labs: Creating biohybrid neuron-silicon interfaces, where living brain organoids interact with neuromorphic chips.

To function in vivo, prosthetic neurons must support homeostatic plasticity (self-tuning to surrounding activity) and neuromodulatory control (dopamine/serotonin-based adaptation). Memristor-based synapses (Stanford, RMIT) and graphene bioelectronic interfaces (UC Berkeley, INBRAIN Neuroelectronics) are advancing real-time bidirectional neurointerfaces.

A brain prosthesis must replace small regions first, eventually scaling to entire cognitive structures without disrupting continuity of experience:

  • 3D-Stacked Neuromorphic Chips (MIT, Tsinghua University): High-density memristive arrays allow for massive parallelism on a biologically relevant scale.

  • Optogenetic-Silicon Hybrids (Harvard, EPFL): Combining light-sensitive neural modulation with photonic neuromorphic processors for seamless connectivity.

  • Neurogrid (Stanford): Mimicking millions of neurons in real time with ultra-low power consumption, optimizing for cortical-scale emulation.

The ultimate goal is to transition from biological to synthetic neurons gradually, ensuring continuous consciousness. While no existing system can yet perform full brain replacement, rapid progress in neuromorphic computation, neural interfaces, and adaptive bioelectronics is bringing brain prostheses closer to reality.

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Solve death with synthetic replacements

We unite scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and investors who seek to prolong and enhance human existence

info@sciborg.xyz

© Sciborg DAO 2024

Solve death with synthetic replacements

We unite scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and investors who seek to prolong and enhance human existence

info@sciborg.xyz

© Sciborg DAO 2024

Solve death with synthetic replacements

We unite scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and investors who seek to prolong and enhance human existence

info@sciborg.xyz

© Sciborg DAO 2024

Solve death with synthetic replacements

We unite scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and investors who seek to prolong and enhance human existence

info@sciborg.xyz

© Sciborg DAO 2024