At Musk’s brain-chip startup, animal-testing panel is rife with potential conflicts

By Rachael Levy and Marisa Taylor
FILE PHOTO FILE PHOTO Neuralink logo and Elon Musk photo are seen in this illustration taken December 19 2022. REUTERSDado RuvicIllustrationFile PhotoFile Photo

FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: Neuralink logo and Elon Musk photo are seen in this illustration taken, December 19, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo/File Photo

(Reuters) - Elon Musk’s brain-implant venture has filled an animal-research oversight board with company insiders who may stand to benefit financially as the firm reaches development goals, according to company documents and interviews with six current and former employees.

Such oversight boards are required by federal law for organizations experimenting on certain types of animals. The panels are charged with ensuring proper animal care, high research standards, and the reliability of data that helps regulators decide whether drugs or medical devices are safe for human testing.

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