Dr. Andrew Morokoff of Royal Melbourne Hospital led the initiation of the trial, which evaluates the bi-directional Cipher system, which uses a highly flexible, electrode-dense thin-film cortical probe to record brain activity and delivery electrical stimulation with ultra-high spatial resolution. Morokoff also performed the first implant for Synchron, a leader in the BCI race.
Initially, the study evaluates the BCI in performing neurophysiological mapping and stimulation during brain tumor resection surgery. Findings will inform the development of SOMA-1, the company’s second-generation implant for sensing electrical activity in the tumor microenvironment and stimulating in response. Coherence says it wants to become the first to develop this type of therapy in an implantable setting. Companies like Novocure have already utilized electrical fields for treating tumors through non-implantable methods.
SOMA-1 is a therapeutic brain-computer interface (BCI) that continually monitors and administers custom stimulation to potentially treat cancer. It features a wireless, coin-sized implant designed to subtly stimulate and record from the brain. It works with an over-ear wearable that delivers all-day power and memory. Then, the SOMA app provides real-time insights, session history and symptom tracking tools. Coherence Neuro outlined the potential of SOMA-1 when it announced a $10 million seed round last year.
The company aims for the study to evaluate safety, basic performance and handling characteristics during short-duration intraoperative use.
Co-Founder and CEO, Ben Woodington
“While the transition to a clinical stage company is a phenomenal achievement, our real work is only just beginning. The team is on a mission to transform the lives of people with cancer, starting with the brain. We are developing the world’s first platform to record and modulate cancer in real time.”
