David McMullen, MD, a neurological device regulator for the FDA, has been hired to lead medical affairs for Neuralink, a brain-computer interface startup founded by Elon Musk.
Dr. McMullen has served as director of the FDA’s Office of Neurological and Physical Medicine Devices since 2022, after nearly six years as National Institutes of Health program chief for neuromodulation and neurostimulation. He starts at Neuralink on Dec. 22.
“This role combines scientific rigor, direct patient impact, and the chance to move the entire field of BCI forward,” he said in a Dec. 9 news release. “My highest calling has always been to get safe and effective devices to the people who need them most. Neuralink is one of the very few places where that mission feels not just possible, but urgent.”
In 2025, Neuralink has continued to implant brain chips in paralyzed patients as part of a clinical trial, including at University of Miami Health System. The company also raised $650 million in June.
