Bio-Electronics: A New Business Controlling Human Organs With Electronic Implants

 

The Google company Verily Life Sciences is teaming up with pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline to develop implants that will fix problems in our organs using electricity.

To do this, the firms are setting up a new company in the UK, called Galvani Bioelectronics, which will receive up to £540 million over the next seven years.

The idea behind bio-electronic implants is to modify nerve signals in ways that will fix or counteract problems in the body – a bit like heart pacemakers and defibrillator implants already do. The plan is to develop tiny implants that can connect to the nerves linked to specific organs, and for these implants to be powered wirelessly and operate automatically.

Wired up

“Many of the processes of the human body are controlled by electrical signals firing between the nervous system and the body’s organs, which may become distorted in many chronic diseases,” said Moncef Slaoui, at GSK, who will chair the board of Galvani Bioelectronics.

As well as stimulating or inhibiting nerve signals, such devices could in theory also monitor natural nerve signal traffic, and act when something goes wrong.

Devices that modify neural circuits do already exist. Last year, the US Food and Drug Administration approved a device that blocks signals along the vagus nerve to treat obesity. Electrodes in the brain have been used in efforts to relieve multiple conditions, including epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and depression.

But GSK hopes to develop more precise implants. “In 10 years’ time, I think it’s very realistic to imagine that if you have type 2 diabetes, you could go to your specialist to have bio-electronic medical treatment,” said Kris Famm of GSK, who will be president of the new company. “You’d be sent to a surgeon to have keyhole surgery to implant the device, and then go back to the specialist to have it programmed.”

New Scientist

« Cybersecurity Issues Are M&A Deal Breakers
UK Security Agencies Say Mass Internet Spying Is Crucial »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

Syxsense

Syxsense

Syxsense brings together endpoint management and security for greater efficiency and collaboration between IT management and security teams.

Perimeter 81 / How to Select the Right ZTNA Solution

Perimeter 81 / How to Select the Right ZTNA Solution

Gartner insights into How to Select the Right ZTNA offering. Download this FREE report for a limited time only.

ON-DEMAND WEBINAR: What Is A Next-Generation Firewall (and why does it matter)?

ON-DEMAND WEBINAR: What Is A Next-Generation Firewall (and why does it matter)?

Watch this webinar to hear security experts from Amazon Web Services (AWS) and SANS break down the myths and realities of what an NGFW is, how to use one, and what it can do for your security posture.

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout enables cyber security professionals to reduce cyber risk to their organization with proactive security solutions, providing immediate improvement in security posture and ROI.

Resecurity, Inc.

Resecurity, Inc.

Resecurity is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified platform for endpoint protection, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence.

Voyager Networks

Voyager Networks

Voyager Networks is an IT solutions business with a focus on Enterprise Networks, Security and Collaborative Communications.

Information Security Research Association (ISRA)

Information Security Research Association (ISRA)

ISRA is a non-profit organization focused on various aspects of Information Security including security research and cyber security awareness activities.

Australian Signals Directorate (ASD)

Australian Signals Directorate (ASD)

The Australian Signals Directorate is an intelligence agency in the Australian Government Department of Defence.

IAC

IAC

IAC is a specialist Irecruitment consultancy covering Internal Audit, Risk, Controls, Governance, IT Audit, and Cyber Security roles.

AKS IT Services

AKS IT Services

AKS IT Services (an ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001:2013 certified company) is a leading IT Security Services and Solutions provider.

European Society of Criminology (ESC)

European Society of Criminology (ESC)

The ESC Working Group on Cybercrime is focused on cybercrime, its causes and offenders, impact on victims, and our response to it at the individual, corporate, and governmental levels.

Uhuru Corp

Uhuru Corp

Uhuru offers a wide variety of IoT products and solutions including enebular® IoT Orchestration Service.

Greenwave Systems

Greenwave Systems

Greenwave's AXON Platform enables IoT and M2M network service providers to address security, interoperability, flexibility and scalability from a single IoT platform.

Dutch Accreditation Council (RvA)

Dutch Accreditation Council (RvA)

RvA is the national accreditation body for the Netherlands. The directory of members provides details of organisations offering certification services for ISO 27001.

ISMS Accreditation Center (ISMS-AC)

ISMS Accreditation Center (ISMS-AC)

ISMS-AC is the national accreditation body for Japan. The directory of members provides details of organisations offering certification services for ISO 27001.

GMV

GMV

GMV is a technological business group offering solutions, services and products in diverse sectors including Intelligent Transportation Systems, Cybersecurity, Telecoms and IT.

Touchstone Security

Touchstone Security

Touchstone Security is a company with a passion for technology, a hyper-focus on cybersecurity, and a special affinity for cloud technology.

Securd

Securd

Securd takes opportunities away from your cyber adversaries. Cloud-delivered zero-trust DNS firewall and web filtering protection keep your business network and remote employees safe.

OmniCyber Security

OmniCyber Security

Omni is a cyber security firm specialising in Penetration Testing, Managed Security and Compliance.

Zorus

Zorus

Zorus provides best-in-class cybersecurity products to MSP partners to help them grow their business and protect their clients.

GAM Tech

GAM Tech

GAM Tech is a Managed IT Service Provider that serves small and medium sized businesses in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec.