A U.S. military veteran paralyzed in a motorcycle accident has become the first person implanted with a Neuralink brain-computer interface at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, part of the University of Miami Health System. The procedure marks a major milestone in both academic medicine and next-generation neurotechnology.
Identified publicly only as “RJ,” the patient received the device in April through Neuralink’s ongoing PRIME Study, a clinical trial assessing the safety and functionality of its brain-computer interface (BCI) implant. The system creates a wireless, digital connection between the brain and external devices, such as smartphones and computers.
RJ is the fifth person worldwide to participate in the study and the first to undergo surgery at the Miami Project, a global leader in spinal cord injury research, and UHealth, the University of Miami’s academic health system. He was discharged the day after surgery.
Breakthrough for clinical research in brain-computer interfaces
The procedure was performed by a multidisciplinary team from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s departments of neurological surgery and rehabilitation. The lead investigator at the Miami site is Dr. Jonathan Jagid, M.D., professor of clinical neurological surgery, neurology, and orthopedics and rehabilitation.
“We are excited as a team to discover how this device has the potential to change people’s day-to-day lives,” Jagid said. “As a doctor and researcher, I continue to be encouraged as we learn more about the capabilities and possibilities of this technology.”
RJ, who now uses the Neuralink device to operate a smartphone and computer through thought alone, credited the team with transforming his outlook. “They’re giving me my spark back… my drive back. They’ve given me my purpose back. Now, I’m able to turn around and build that fire for the next guys that come through,” he said.
The University of Miami surgical team also included Dr. Allan Levi, M.D., Ph.D.,, chair of neurological surgery; Dr. Michael Ivan, M.D.,, associate professor of neurological surgery; and Dr. Seth Tigchelaar, a neurosurgery resident. The operation was conducted at UHealth Tower, UHealth’s flagship hospital.
The UHealth and The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis team with Elon Musk at UHealth Tower. (Photo: The University of Miami)
Elon Musk’s Neuralink technology meets South Florida medical expertise
Neuralink’s PRIME Study (Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface) is a federally registered clinical trial (NCT06429735) designed to evaluate the company’s first-in-human brain interface. The implant records brain signals and transmits them wirelessly to external systems. The goal is to restore function for individuals with severe motor impairments, including those with cervical spinal cord injury or ALS.
“This is a great milestone to attain as we kick off the 40th anniversary of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis,” said Dr. Barth A. Green, M.D.,, co-founder of the Miami Project and professor of neurological surgery. “As we draw closer and closer to cures and solutions for those living with SCI and other neurological conditions, it is only fitting that we partner with Neuralink to utilize some of the most promising BCI technology in the world to advance that goal.”
Dr. Dipen J. Parekh, M.D., CEO of UHealth and founding director of the Desai Sethi Urology Institute, praised the achievement as an example of the value of academic medicine. “Putting the latest technology into the hands of experts to break boundaries is what academic medicine is all about,” he said. “Our surgeons are among the best in the nation to help take this technology to the next level. Seeing it benefit a patient so directly is the ultimate reward.”
Milestone for South Florida neuroscience
The Miami Project’s role in the Neuralink study also reflects its broader leadership in neuroengineering. The collaboration is being led by Dr. W. Dalton Dietrich, Ph.D.,, scientific director of The Miami Project and co-director of the University of Miami Neural Engineering Institute.
“This collaboration, which has already resulted in the successful implantation of Neuralink’s brain computer interface implant into a spinal cord-injured individual at The Miami Project, is a testament to our multidisciplinary approach for advancing the latest research in neural interfaces and neurorehabilitation,” Dietrich said.
Marc Buoniconti, president of The Miami Project and longtime advocate for spinal cord injury research, called the partnership with Neuralink a significant step forward. “We are excited to move forward applying this new technology and combine our clinical research expertise with the forward-thinking team at Neuralink,” he said. “We know this collaboration will be another great step forward and hopefully lead to meaningful results for the millions living with paralysis and other significant motor deficits.”
Next steps in recruitment and research
Neuralink continues to recruit additional participants for the PRIME Study. The company is seeking individuals with limited or no use of both hands due to cervical spinal cord injury or ALS. Eligible individuals can apply through Neuralink’s U.S. Patient Registry.
For the patient and surgical team alike, the procedure marks a new chapter in the evolution of brain-controlled technologies—and a signal that Miami is helping lead the way.
