Former Harvard professor Charles Lieber has established a new brain-computer interface research lab in Shenzhen, reigniting debate over US-China technology transfer and national security concerns.
An American scientist convicted of making false statements about his ties to Chinese state recruitment programs has rebuilt his research career in China, where he now leads a government-backed neuroscience institute focused on brain-computer interface technology.
Charles Lieber, 67, previously a leading chemist and nanoscience researcher at Harvard University, was found guilty in 2021 of lying to US federal authorities about financial links to China’s Thousand Talents Program. He was also convicted of tax related offenses tied to payments from a Chinese university.
After serving a brief prison sentence and house arrest, Lieber has resurfaced in Shenzhen, where he now heads the Institute for Brain Research, Advanced Interfaces and Neurotechnologies (i-BRAIN), part of the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation (SMART).
The lab focuses on brain-computer interface systems designed to restore movement in paralyzed patients and treat neurological disorders. However, experts note the same technology could also have military applications, including cognitive enhancement research.
Lieber’s new facility reportedly has access to advanced chip-making equipment, primate research infrastructure, and significant state funding, resources that surpass what he previously had at Harvard University.
Chinese authorities have designated brain computer interfaces as a key priority within national science and technology strategies, directing substantial funding to research centers such as Shenzhen.
His return to high-level research has raised concerns among some US security analysts, who argue that China’s ability to recruit top tier scientists despite prior convictions highlights gaps in export controls and research oversight.
Neither SMART nor i-BRAIN responded to requests for comment, while Lieber has declined interview requests citing current commitments.
Goodness Anunobi
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