Neuralink is at the heart of a complaint against UC Davis (University of California), where a team of researchers carried out experiments on macaques for several years on behalf of Elon Musk’s company.
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), which brings together 17,000 doctors in the United States, filed a complaint, with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, against the University of California, Davis campus, for animal abuse.
One of its research departments worked on behalf of Neuralink, Elon Musk’s start-up which is developing a brain implant. The university notably received 1.4 million dollars from Neuralink to carry out tests of this device on primates. However, on more than 600 pages embellished with photos and videos, are depicted very disturbing facts, relating the conditions in which the animals were seen withdrawn from the pieces of skull for the implantation of the electrodes and the absence of adequate veterinary care. which led to the death of most of these guinea pigs during the experiments. The use of an unauthorized substance called “bioglue” is widely commented on, knowing that it had the effect of destroying entire sections of the brains of animals, accelerating their death.
Following the implantation of the device, the macaques suffered for the most part from heavy trauma, in particular facial trauma, with infections at the site of the operation, or regular seizures. Some animals, whose health was deteriorating, were euthanized even before participating in the experimental program.
Battle over the publication of images
“UC Davis may have handed over its state-funded facilities to a billionaire, but that doesn’t mean it can evade transparency requirements and violate federal animal welfare laws. […] The documents reveal that monkeys had their brains mutilated in shoddy experiments and left to suffer until death. This is why Elon Musk and the university want to hide the photos and videos of this horrific abuse from the public”says PCRM doctor Jeremy Beckham.
Indeed, the university refuses to publish these documents, explaining that they belong to Neuralink, a private company not subject to the law on public records of California. The plaintiffs believe that, since this work took place within the confines of the university, its publication should be compulsory. According to various sources, out of 23 monkeys used for these experiments between 2017 and 2020, only seven survived.
Neuralink, in response to these accusations, indicates that “all new medical devices must be tested on animals before being tested on humans” and it’s a rule “which Neuralink cannot escape”. The company adds that, since 2020, it has repatriated all of these animal experiments to its own premises, “to improve their quality of life”. “We are absolutely concerned with working with animals in the most humane and ethical way possible”can we read in its press release.
After having communicated widely around one of the monkeys of the experiment playing Pong by thought last year, Neuralink hopes to be able to launch the first tests on humans in 2022. The company has also opened recruitment of a director of clinical trials. Provided that this complaint does not delay the necessary authorizations, including that of the Food and Drug Administration.