Key points from article :
Brain implants are opening up new possibilities for people with severe neurological conditions, from restoring communication in those with locked-in syndrome to helping manage epilepsy, depression, and chronic pain. At the forefront of this work is Associate Professor Vasiliki (Vasso) Giagka of TU Delft, whose research focuses on developing flexible, active neural interfaces that can be implanted directly into brain tissue.
These tiny devices work by delivering electrical pulses that modulate neural activity—targeting specific areas more precisely than drugs, which affect the whole body. Already in use for epilepsy and depression, this approach is now being explored for autoimmune diseases, sleep apnoea, spinal cord injuries, and Parkinson’s tremors. The same implants can also record brain signals to drive brain-computer interfaces, allowing people to speak via computer or control prosthetic limbs with their thoughts.
Beyond therapy and assistive technologies, these implants also enable fundamental research into how neurons communicate—crucial for developing better treatments. But turning lab innovations into patient-ready devices requires multidisciplinary collaboration, long-term reliability, and close ties with industry. Looking ahead, Giagka envisions a future of wireless, adaptable brain implants tailored to each patient, while emphasizing the ethical responsibility to manage expectations: these are treatments, not cures.
