Neuralink, the Elon Musk-helmed brain-implant firm, is under investigation from the US Department of Transportation over the potentially illegal movement of hazardous pathogens.

The probe comes after animal-welfare advocacy group Physicians Committee of Responsible Medicine (PCRM) wrote to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg highlighting “violations of the federal hazardous material transportation law.”

The PCRM said that it had obtained documents which suggest that the company carried out the unsafe packaging and movement of implants removed from the brains of monkeys. These implants, it said, may have carried infectious diseases in direct violation of federal law.

It said that the company’s behaviour poses “a serious and ongoing public health risk,” with the implants potentially being contaminated with pathogens such as antibiotic-resistant staphylococcus, herpes B virus. The letter also highlights a lack of legally required safety training for employees packaging, handling and transporting the materials.

PCRM said it obtained emails and other documents that suggest unsafe packaging and movement of implants removed from the brains of monkeys. These implants may have carried infectious diseases in violation of federal law, PCRM said.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Transportation said that it is taking the allegations “very seriously,” adding: "We are conducting an investigation to ensure that Neuralink is in full compliance with federal regulations and keeping their workers and the public safe from potentially dangerous pathogens.”

The company had already faced – and denied – claims that Neuralink-baked researchers at the University of California abused monkeys in experiments. In February 2022, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) issued a statement saying that monkeys at UC Davis had their brains mutilated in shoddy experiments and were left to suffer and die.”

Neuralink at the time said that researchers "did and continue to meet federally mandated standards," shortly before moving the animals to an in-house facility.

In December 2022, Reuters reported that a probe was opened by the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) inspector general into potential violations of the Animal Welfare Act by Neuralink. It detailed interviews with almost two dozen current and former employees who highlighted botched experiments, including one which caused an animal to be euthanised.

Neuralink's mission statement is to develop ways for the human brain to interface directly with computers to help treat neurological conditions and paralysis. So far, its greatest achievement is getting a monkey to play Pong with its brain. Company boss Elon Musk in December said that human trials were around six months away, though the billionaire previously made similar claims in 2020 and earlier in 2022.

Share Story: