Max Hodak’s Science Corp. is preparing to place its first sensor in a human brain

Science Corporation, the $1.5 billion neurotech startup founded by former Neuralink president Max Hodak, is preparing to implant its first sensor in a human brain. The company has enlisted Dr. Murat Günel, chair of Yale Medical School's Department of Neurosurgery, to lead the first U.S. human trials. This follows a $230 million Series C funding round and two years of development on a 'biohybrid' interface that aims to combine lab-grown neurons with electronics. Unlike Neuralink's direct brain-tissue implants, Science's initial sensor will rest on top of the brain, inside the skull.

Hodak's vision moves beyond current brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), which use metal electrodes that can cause long-term tissue damage. Science's approach centers on creating a biological bridge: its device will be embedded with lab-grown neurons designed to naturally integrate with a patient's own neural tissue, stimulated by pulses of light. The company's most advanced product is currently PRIMA, a vision-restoration device for macular degeneration. However, the long-term goal is to establish reliable computer-brain communication for treating disease and, eventually, human enhancement—such as adding new senses. The upcoming trial will first test the sensor hardware without the embedded neurons, a critical step toward their revolutionary biohybrid system.