Weekly Signal: 43 | Durability Replaces Demos in Neurotech

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• Weekly Signal

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🧠 Weekly Signal

Neurotechnology News | Jan 24–Jan 30, 2026

Let's cut through the noise this week!

TL;DR

This week’s signals pointed to a clear shift from proof-of-concept toward durability and scale. Clinical updates highlighted repeatable blood–brain barrier opening in glioblastoma, multi-year follow-up from a visual cortical prosthesis, and growing enrollment in an implantable brain–computer interface (BCI) trial. On the industry side, non-implant BCI concepts gained visibility, while NIH advisory activity underscored how governance continues to shape funding and research priorities. Bottom line: long-horizon data and operational maturity—not demos—defined progress this week.

🧠 SCIENCE & CLINICAL TRIALS

🟢 Focused ultrasound BBB opening + bevacizumab in recurrent glioblastoma

Published: January 30, 2026
Read more ➡️ FUS Foundation

A Taiwan team reported early-stage safety/feasibility for repeated focused ultrasound–mediated BBB opening alongside bevacizumab (Avastin) in recurrent glioblastoma, and they are now recruiting for a larger follow-on trial at two sites. The immediate signal is practical: whether BBB opening can be delivered repeatedly and safely enough to support scaled drug-delivery protocols, not just one-off demonstrations.

💡 Big Picture: If repeatable BBB opening holds up, it strengthens a credible path to “drug delivery as the product” for brain tumors.

🟢 Orion visual cortical prosthesis reports 6-year feasibility results

Published: Jan 29, 2026
Read more ➡️ Investing.com / Vivani

Cortigent reported 6-year early feasibility study results for the Orion visual cortical prosthesis, describing outcomes from six implanted participants and study completion in March 2025. The update matters because multi-year follow-up is a key risk reducer for implanted neurostimulation systems intended for chronic use.

💡 Big Picture: Longer follow-up helps separate durable signal from early novelty in cortical neurostimulation.

🟢 Neuralink posts 2-year Telepathy program update

Published: Jan 28, 2026
Read more ➡️ Reuters / Neuralink

Neuralink’s Telepathy update described trial progress, including total participants enrolled and ongoing iteration on the implant-and-software stack. It matters because enrollment scale and iteration cadence are practical indicators of whether a BCI program is moving from proof-of-concept toward repeatable clinical operations.

💡 Big Picture: Execution details (enrollment, iteration, safety follow-up) are the real bottlenecks in implantable BCI translation.

💼 INDUSTRY & STARTUPS

🟢 Wired profiles Gestala’s non-implant BCI positioning

Published: Jan 29, 2026
Read more ➡️ Yahoo Finance / GlobeNewsWire

Wired profiled Gestala’s approach to brain–computer interfaces using ultrasound-based methods, framing the company’s near-term technical and commercialization claims. In parallel, Gestala published a company update about a strategic partnership with Fourier, signaling an applied robotics/embodiment direction for its interface concepts.

💡 Big Picture: If non-implant approaches can scale, the market could shift toward lower-friction data/intent interfaces—but validation and safety evidence will decide.

🏛️ POLICY & ETHICS

🟢 NIH posts NINDS Advisory Council meeting notice

Published: Jan 30, 2026
Read more ➡️ U.S Government Publishing Office / Federal Register

NIH published a Federal Register notice scheduling an upcoming NINDS advisory council meeting, including the open/closed session structure and public-access details. This matters because advisory council agendas and concept clearances shape what gets funded next in U.S. neuroscience—often upstream of neurotechnology programs and clinical pipelines.

💡 Big Picture: Governance signals can quietly redirect neurotech funding priorities months before programs show up in press releases.

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