OpenAI Backs Coherence Neuro's Brain Implant for Cancer Detection in $45 Million Round
Coherence Neuro, a startup based in San Francisco, has successfully secured $45 million in seed funding from OpenAI's venture capital division and Peter Thiel's Founders Fund. CEO Ben Woodington emphasizes the collaboration potential between AI research facilities and brain-computer interface (BCI) innovators. This investment comes after OpenAI's January involvement with Merge Labs, which specializes in ultrasound-driven brain decoding. Coherence's brain implant, which has been trialed on three patients during brain tumor surgeries at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, seeks to interpret electrical signals associated with tumors and provide immediate treatment. The new funding will facilitate a clinical trial for glioblastoma and future initiatives targeting other cancer types. OpenAI will not have access to any health data from Coherence.
Key facts
- Coherence Neuro raised a $45 million seed round backed by OpenAI's venture arm and Peter Thiel's Founders Fund
- Coherence is developing a brain implant using AI models to decode electrical signals associated with brain tumors
- The implant was tested for about 30 minutes in three patients during tumor removal surgery at Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia
- Recording and stimulation capabilities are now being tested in seven additional patients
- Funding will support a clinical trial of long-term implantation in glioblastoma patients
- OpenAI announced a direct investment in Merge Labs, cofounded by Sam Altman, in January, with $252 million in initial funding
- Founders Fund previously backed Neuralink and CTRL-labs, acquired by Facebook in 2019
- CEO Ben Woodington said OpenAI will not have access to Coherence's brain or health data
Entities
Artists
- Ben Woodington
- Sam Altman
- Peter Thiel
- Elon Musk
- Ian Hathaway
Institutions
- OpenAI
- OpenAI Startup Fund
- Founders Fund
- Coherence Neuro
- Merge Labs
- Neuralink
- CTRL-labs
- Royal Melbourne Hospital
- Wired
Locations
- San Francisco
- United States
- Melbourne
- Australia