Paradromics kicks off BCI partnership program to advance tech

Paradromics announced today that it kicked off a new partnership program to open collaboration on brain-computer interface (BCI) technology.

The Application Expansion (APEX) Partnership Program aims to drive collaboration between Paradromics and academic researchers advancing BCI science. It provides access to a high-performing BCI to help progress on a range of applications for the technology.

Austin, Texas-based Paradromics develops the Connexus BCI system. It believes Connexus has the potential to help patients communicate after losing the ability to speak and control computer devices. The system translates recorded brain signals into actionable health data. Initial focus centers around restoring independent communication through digital devices. It targets individuals living with spinal cord injuries, stroke, or ALS, a motor neuron disease.

Paradromics reported cases last year that demonstrated that the Paradromics Connexus BCI can be safely implanted in a human before ultimately receiving the FDA’s green light to conduct a trial through investigational device exemption. In parallel with the program, the Connect-One clinical study continues evaluating the long-term use of Connexus. The company expects the first surgery of that study in the first half of 2026.

The company says that strategic alliances with leading BCI researchers offers unique backgrounds. It helps to advance treatments for individuals with Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, stroke, epilepsy, spinal cord injury and ALS.

“The APEX Partnership Program builds a vibrant ecosystem where scientific discovery and medical device development move hand-in-hand,” said Vikash Gilja, PhD, chief scientific officer at Paradromics. “By aligning academic innovation with the Paradromics BCI platform, capable of transferring over 200 bits of information per second with minimal delay, we can bring life-changing technology to people faster.” 

More on the Paradromix APEX program and its partners

Paradromics outlined the scope of its APEX program and the researchers taking part:

• Expanding the clinical scope of BCIs via multi-regional targeting protocols at Stanford University
  • Dr. Jamie Henderson
    • A leader in image-guided functional neurosurgery, dedicated to treating movement disorders like Parkinson’s and essential tremors. Henderson has pioneered research on restoring movement via BCI.
  • Frank Willett, PhD
    • A prominent scientist whose work in neural decoding aids in BCI-enabled communication.
• Evaluating BCI’s role in neurorecovery and expanded applications for communication and motor deficits at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)
  • Dr. Dan Rubin
    • A critical care neurologist and leading BCI researcher who led a comprehensive safety assessment of implantable BCIs. Rubin serves as the director of the nation’s first dedicated BCI clinic and leads a research team focused on the clinical translation of BCI technology.
• Exploring motor and sensory function restoration for upper limb paralysis at the University of Pittsburgh
  • Jennifer Collinger, PhD
  • Robert Gaunt, PhD
    • Collinger and Gaunt both bring decades of pioneering work in physical medicine and spinal cord injury. They plan to work with bidirectional interfaces to restore movement and the sense of touch in those with paralysis.
• Developing BCI-based controllers for complex systems at the University of Michigan
  • Dr. Matt Willsey
    • Willsey led the first surgical placement of Connexus last year. He also established one of the nation’s first BCI clinics to research speech and motor assistive devices, barriers to BCI adoption and expanded BCI indications.
• Investigating speech restoration for people who lost the muscle control needed to talk (dysarthria/anarthria) at UC Davis Health
  • Dr. David Brandman
    • A leading BCI researcher featured in the 2026 TIME100 Most Influential People in Health, offers experience in surgical interventions for movement disorders and epilepsy to explore potential BCI applications.

“With publicly funded research continuing to demonstrate the potential of implantable brain-computer interfaces, companies are now positioned to translate these breakthroughs to medical devices that could restore communication and mobility,” commented Dr. Leigh Hochberg, critical care neurologist, neuroscientist, and director of the BrainGate clinical trials. “Robust academic-industry collaborations will enable exciting and expanded opportunities for these neurotechnologies to help people with neurologic disease or injury.”