Tech

More autonomy, fewer NDAs: Volunteers have new requests for brain implant trials

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Briefings

Volunteers for brain implant trials are receiving new guidelines to recognize their contributions and protect privacy. Ian Burkhart, who volunteered for hand control trials starting in 2014, co-founded the BCI Pioneers Coalition to help researchers create ethical standards. The guidelines, published in 2026, address compensation, data access, and post-trial device maintenance, though some provisions remain vague. Burkhart's experience highlights the need for recognition and clear protocols for handling long-term participant data and device removal.

Key points

• Ian Burkhart volunteered for hand control brain implant trials starting in 2014, participating in two years-long clinical trials over a seven-and-a-half-year period.
• Burkhart co-founded the BCI Pioneers Coalition in 2022 to develop guidelines that recognize participants' contributions and protect their privacy regarding brain data.

Context

Brain implant trials for brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) require ethical guidelines to protect participants' autonomy and privacy. Ian Burkhart's experience in 2014-2021 highlights the challenges of long-term participation and the need for recognition and data access rights.

Limitations

Guidelines remain vague in some areas. Specific funding issues and post-trial device removal protocols are described as vague, and some recommendations lack precise implementation details.

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