From Theoretical Network to Bedside: Translational Application of Brain-Inspired Computing in Clinical Medicine

Advances in the brain-inspired computing space are growing at a rapid rate, and many of these emerging strategies are in the field of neuromorphic control, robotics, and sensor development, just to name a few. These innovations are disruptive in their own right and have numerous, multi-dimensional medical applications within precision medicine, telematics, device development, and informed clinical decision making. For this discussion, I will define brain-inspired computing in the scope of simulating the architecture of the brain and discuss the realization of integrating hardware and other technologies with the applications of medicine, along with the considerations for the regulatory pathway for approval and evaluating the risk/consequences of failure modes. This perspective is a call for continued discussion of the development of a pathway for translating these technologies into medical treatment and diagnostic strategies. The aim is to align with global regulatory bodies and ensure that regulation does not limit the capacity of these emerging innovations while ensuring patient safety and clinical efficacy. It is my perspective that it is and will continue to be critical that these technologies are correctly perceived and understood in the lens of multiple disciplines in order to reach their full potential for medical applications.