Report: UK startup hopes to communicate directly with the nervous system

Cambridge University spin-out Cambridge Bio-Augmentation Systems and tech company Nvidia are partnering to work on a system that they hope will allow devices to directly communicate with the human central nervous system, according to a new Forbes report.

CBAS is developing neural interfaces they say will allow external devices to communicate directly with the central nervous system, hoping that if they are able to talk to the system, they could manage chronic diseases “at the root,” according to the report.

“We’re building what is essentially a USB port to allow communication with the nervous system,” CBAS CEO and co-founder Emil Hewage said, according to Forbes.

Researchers are hopeful that the technology could have applications in spaces such as diabetes, as it may be able to identify the neural signal between the pancreas and nervous system which causes insulin to be dispensed, according to the report.

CBAS is engaged in a project looking to map the entire nervous system in hopes they can use the data to create a ‘plug-and-play’ platform to interact across the network. The group is creating an open platform with open standards to allow anyone in the healthcare space to tap into the knowledge for next-gen tech, with CBAS acting as the “connection provider,” according to Forbes.

The group has joined Nvidia’s Inception Programme designed for AI-based startups as they look to progress their research and device development, according to the report.

The first focus for CBAS will be to build their first clinical-grade system designed as a neural interface for amputees, according to Forbes, which they hope will be able to connect to prosthetics to restore sensation to patients.

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