China Launches the First Systematic Multi-Center Clinical Trials of Brain-Computer Interface in Neurointensive Care Unit

On August 24, the Haihe Laboratory of Brain-Computer Interaction and Human-Machine Integration at Tianjin University, together with Tianjin Huanhu Hospital, initiated the world’s first multi-center clinical trial applying brain-computer interface (BCI) technology to neurointensive care unit. Partnering with leading institutions including Xuanwu Hospital and Tiantan Hospital of Capital Medical University, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China, and Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, the project aims to address current challenges at clinical bedside in intensive care unit, including "monitoring-diagnosis-treatment-modulation". These pioneering trials represent the world’s first systematic clinical application of non-invasive BCI technology in neurointensive care unit, which is a significant milestone indicating that BCI have transcended the traditional realm of rehabilitation and is now venturing into critical care field.

The initiative is expected to set new standards and provide innovative Chinese solutions for precision treatment in this field, with potential to extend to broader clinical applications worldwide. At the launch event, the Tianjin University team announced a series of latest research advancements, including high-precision non-invasive intracranial pressure monitoring device, rapid and precise diagnostic techniques for hydrocephalus based on BCI and cerebrospinal fluid circulation dynamics, non-invasive transcranial modulation technologies, and digital therapeutics, etc., that are utilized for the diagnosis and treatment of neurocritical brain diseases. In the future, these technology will be validated in the multi-center clinical trials.

Liu Xiuyun, Executive Director of the Neurocritical Care Innovation Center of the Ministry of Education and Deputy Director of the Haihe Laboratory, Tianjin University, noted: “Since launching the world’s first neuro-rehabilitation robot ‘Shengong No.1’ in 2014, Tianjin University has steadily advanced BCI into clinical practice. This trial opens a new chapter in non-invasive precision diagnosis and treatment of brain diseases in neurointensive care unit, paving the way for a closed-loop system linking basic research, clinical trials, and large-scale application.”

The initiative comes as China accelerates policy support for BCI. In March, the National Healthcare Security Administration officially included BCI in the pricing of neurological medical services, and in July, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and six other ministries jointly issued guidelines to promote BCI development in healthcare and beyond.

Ge Le, Party Secretary of Tianjin Huanhu Hospital, emphasized that BCI technology is redefining the boundaries of neurological medicine and has already brought breakthroughs in stroke rehabilitation, epilepsy diagnosis, neuromodulation, and pediatric cerebral palsy treatment. The country’s first dedicated BCI clinical trial ward, jointly established with Tianjin University, will officially open in October.

During the conference, several key publications were also released, including the 2025 Consensus on EVD Hydraulic Coupling Intracranial Pressure Monitoring and Multimedia Guide to Neurocritical Multimodal Monitoring, as well as a new volume Neurocritical Regulation compiled by the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC. Experts from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, Tianjin University, and nine leading hospitals shared their insights on BCI innovation, neurocritical multimodal monitoring, andneural ICU treatment, highlighting new possibilities for clinical breakthroughs.

The event also featured live demonstrations of Tianjin University’s latest achievements in optical and electrical non-invasive BCI technology for intracranial pressure and brain oxygen monitoring, underscoring the university’s leading role in advancing BCI from independent research to ecosystem-level innovation.

By: Qin Mian