In what sounds extra just like the opening scene from a B-grade sci-fi/horror flick, head transplant operations carried out fully by robotic surgeons may very well be coming to a hospital close to you inside a decade, if startup BrainBridge is to be believed.
It is the brainchild – pun very a lot meant – of Hashem Al-Ghaili, the Berlin-based molecular biologist turned film-maker, producer, creator and science communicator who you would possibly keep in mind from 2022 when he proposed a futuristic, reasonably dystopian artificial-womb baby-making manufacturing unit known as EctoLife.
His newest enterprise, BrainBridge, plans to make use of high-speed robotic programs to protect mind situation whereas a head is transplanted onto a suitable donor physique. (Would not then make this a physique transplant? We guess there are a couple of extra pertinent inquiries to ponder right here first…)
We really feel it is perhaps match to premise this conceptual video with a content material warning…
Head Transplant Machine – BrainBridge
In a transfer that makes Neuralink look like a scalp therapeutic massage, Al-Ghaili desires to do entire head and face operations to offer folks with extreme incapacity a brand new lease on life. The surgical procedure could be pushed by AI algorithms directing the various robotic arms to take away the top and connect it to the brand new torso, reconnecting the spinal wire, nerves and blood vessels. And proprietary chemical adhesive and polyethylene glycol could be used to reconnect severed neurons.
“I’m thrilled to announce BrainBridge, the world’s first idea for a head transplant system, which integrates superior robotics and synthetic intelligence to execute full head and face transplantation procedures,” Al-Ghaili introduced on (the place else however) social media. “This state-of-the-art system provides new hope to sufferers affected by untreatable circumstances resembling stage-4 most cancers, paralysis, and neurodegenerative ailments like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.”
Al-Ghaili first hinted at his daring new science undertaking on X late final yr, and has mentioned the eight-year roadmap to the primary surgical procedure provides him time to recruit “prime expertise to beat present challenges” in drugs, like the issue of spinal wire restore. He is mentioned he desires BrainBridge to begin with profitable spinal wire surgical procedures, earlier than transferring on to the top/physique transplant enterprise.
Prepared for my subsequent idea? I have been engaged on a groundbreaking, science-based thought set to be unveiled in November. This can be a game-changer. Keep tuned for updates! pic.twitter.com/vHAX5Q4CSF
— Hashem Al-Ghaili (@HashemGhaili) October 5, 2023
Nevertheless, the medical science neighborhood has been reasonably quiet in response to the exhausting launch of BrainBridge.
It isn’t the primary time the promise of head transplants has been proposed, with controversial Italian physician Sergio Canavero failing to ship on his promise of this surgical procedure occurring as early as 2017. The furthest he acquired was swapping physique elements on two cadavers. Like Nicolas Cage and John Travolta in Face/Off, if you’ll.
Nonetheless, you need to give Al-Ghaili credit score for his imaginative plan to get a-head within the experimental transplant subject. (Sorry.)
“BrainBridge will have the ability to conduct face and scalp transplantation to revive performance and aesthetic look,” the startup’s light-on-detail web site states. “Youthful donor tissues cut back the chance of rejection and improve look, with meticulous suturing and post-operative care to advertise therapeutic and reduce scarring.”
The location stresses that BrainBridge is “within the conceptual part,” so that you’re contemporary out of luck for those who’re hoping so as to add your title to a wait record for this one.
Oh, and for those who missed EctoLife’s fever-dream child manufacturing unit promotional video, do your self a favor…
EctoLife: The World’s First Synthetic Womb Facility
Supply: BrainBridge