Elon Musk’s Neuralink has officially arrived in Canada. Surgeons at Toronto Western Hospital, part of the University Health Network (UHN), have carried out the country’s first Neuralink brain implant surgeries, making them the first outside the United States to do so.
The two procedures took place on August 27 and September 3, 2025, and mark a milestone for brain-computer interface technology.
The operations are part of the CAN-PRIME Study (Canadian Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface), a clinical trial looking at whether Neuralink’s implant and surgical robot are safe and effective. The goal is to give people living with paralysis the ability to control devices using only their thoughts.
That means these first Neuralink patients in Canada can now use their minds to control their cursor on a MacBook and play games, surf the web and more—just by thinking about it. The BCI device connects to a MacBook or other device via Bluetooth and is wirelessly charged. It also connects to an iPhone and is configured with the Neuralink iOS app.
“We are incredibly proud to be at the forefront of this revolutionary advancement in neurosurgery,” said UHN’s Surgeon-in-Chief, Dr. Thomas Forbes. “This achievement reflects the dedication and expertise of our world-leading surgical and research teams, and our commitment to delivering the most innovative and effective treatments for patients.”
The trial is being led by Dr. Andres Lozano, who holds the Alan and Susan Hudson Cornerstone Chair in Neurosurgery at UHN. His team successfully implanted the wireless brain-computer interface (BCI) in Canadian patients with cervical spinal cord injuries. Recruitment for the study is ongoing, with eligibility extended to individuals with limited or no use of both hands due to spinal cord injury or ALS.
“It’s a profound honour to be a part of this breakthrough research and to lead Canada’s first Neuralink surgeries,” Dr. Lozano said. “This milestone represents a convergence of neuroscience, engineering, and clinical care. I’m proud of our talented team for helping push the boundaries of what’s possible for patients with paralysis. The patients who volunteered to be the first in Canada are remarkable individuals, making significant contributions to advancing science and healthcare.”
Patients who took part will now attend follow-ups and research sessions as they learn to use the implant. Check out the video below to learn more about this game-changing BCI Neuralink chip and its impact on the first patient, Nolan:
The first Neuralink patient registry opened in Canada back in March 2024, with trials slated for November at the time.
Neuralink currently has active studies in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates, making for 11 total patients.
“Good progress by @Neuralink team!”, said Musk on X today. What’s the next frontier for Neuralink? Musk said, “Aiming to restore (limited) sight to the completely blind next year.” Now that would be crazy for someone blind to be able to be able to see again.
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