Paradromics Inc. is launching a new Application Expansion (APEX) Partnership Program to initiate collaborative working relationships between the company and academic researchers advancing brain-computer interface (BCI) science.

“The APEX Partnership Program builds a vibrant ecosystem where scientific discovery and medical device development move hand-in-hand,” Paradromics Chief Scientific Officer Vikash Gilja, Ph.D., said. “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.”

Paradromics built strategic alliances with BCI researchers at multiple institutions, each bringing a unique background working with individuals suffering from Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, stroke, epilepsy, spinal cord injury, and ALS.

The researchers participating in the APEX Partnership Program include:

• Jaimie Henderson, M.D., and Frank Willett, Ph.D., (Stanford University), are working to expand the clinical scope of BCIs via multi-regional targeting protocols.
  • Dr. Henderson is an expert in image-guided functional neurosurgery, melding a career dedicated to treating movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor with pioneering research on restoring movement via BCIs. Dr. Willett, meanwhile, is a scientist whose work in neural decoding has set world records for BCI-enabled communication.
• Dan Rubin, M.D., Ph.D., (Massachusetts General Hospital), is exploring BCIs role in neurorecovery and expanded applications for those with communication and motor deficits. 
  • Critical care neurologist and BCI researcher Dr. Rubin is an expert in the recovery from acute brain injury and the use of BCIs to restore autonomy. He is the first author on the most comprehensive safety assessment of implantable BCIs, director of the nation’s first dedicated BCI clinic, and leads a research team focused on the clinical translation of BCI technology.
• Jennifer Collinger, Ph.D., and Robert Gaunt, Ph.D., (University of Pittsburgh), are exploring motor and sensory function restoration for individuals with upper limb paralysis.
  • Their decades of pioneering work in physical medicine and spinal cord injury set the stage for bidirectional interfaces that restore both movement and the sense of touch for those living with paralysis.
• Matt Willsey, M.D., Ph.D., (University of Michigan), develops BCI-based controllers for complex systems.
  • A neurosurgeon, Dr. Willsey established one of the nation’s first BCI clinics to research speech and motor assistive devices (with an emphasis on BCI-based video games and remotely operated vehicles), barriers to BCI adoption, and expanded BCI indications. 
• David Brandman, M.D., Ph.D., (UC Davis Health), investigates speech restoration for people who have lost the muscle control needed to talk (dysarthria/anarthria).
  • Dr. Brandman is a neurosurgeon and leading BCI researcher. Recently featured in the 2026 TIME 100 Most Influential People in Health, he brings his experience in surgical interventions for movement disorders and epilepsy to his work exploring potential BCI applications.

The fully implanted Connexus BCI, Paradromics’ flagship product, records brain activity at single-neuron resolution from 421 micro-electrodes (each half the width of the research device) and is designed for high performance and longevity. Currently available research-grade BCIs that can record from single neurons have been limited by electrode count (around 100), larger electrode widths that can impact biocompatibility, and the reliance on through-skin connectors. 

“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 Leigh Hochberg, M.D., Ph.D., a 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.”

In parallel to the APEX Partnership Program, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved Paradromics Connect-One Clinical Study will evaluate the long-term use of Connexus BCI for its ability to safely restore speech and enable computer control for people with severe motor impairment. The first surgery in the Connect-One Study is anticipated in the first half of 2026. 

Paradromics builds brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies for seamless human-technology integration to restore human capabilities. Advanced neurotechnology captures brain activity at the highest resolution—individual neurons—enabling artificial intelligence (AI)-powered treatments for motor impairment now and chronic pain, addiction, depression, and other neurological conditions in the near future. Connexus BCI is designed to restore speech and computer control for people with debilitating motor conditions. Over time, the same high-data-rate interface can enable direct neural interaction with intelligent systems, immersive digital environments, and advanced prosthetics.