Dec 9 (Reuters) – Elon Musk’s brain implant company Neuralink has tapped a top U.S. health regulator responsible for overseeing the company and its competitors, according to a company announcement.
U.S. FDA executive David McMullen will lead Neuralink’s medical affairs division, according to the company’s website, a prominent appointment that calls into question the Trump administration’s promise to end the revolving door of government regulators moving into the private sector.
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McMullen most recently served as director at the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Neurological and Physical Medicine Devices, which is responsible for the total lifecycle review of devices such as Neuralink’s brain implant.
McMullen holds longtime ties to executives at Neuralink. He previously worked at a neuroscience lab at Duke University along with researchers who went on to the senior ranks at the company.
“This role combines scientific rigor, direct patient impact, and the chance to move the entire field of BCI (brain-computer interfaces) forward,” McMullen said in a statement.
Neuralink began human trials in 2024 on its brain implant after addressing safety concerns raised by the FDA, which had initially rejected its application in 2022.
Reporting by Rachael Levy in Washington; Additional reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Caroline Humer and Lincoln Feast.
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