Convicted former Harvard scientist rebuilds brain computer lab in China
Lieber’s lab has access to ASML lithography tools and primate facilities as China boosts brain-computer interface research with state funding.
- On April 30, 2026, Reuters reported that former Harvard professor Charles Lieber now leads the state-funded Institute for Brain Research, Advanced Interfaces and Neurotechnologies in Shenzhen, China.
- Lieber, convicted in 2021 of making false statements regarding Chinese funding ties, relocated to Shenzhen in April 2025 after serving his sentence and receiving court approval for "employment networking."
- The lab grants Lieber access to primate research infrastructure and a deep ultraviolet lithography system worth around $2 million, surpassing resources available at Harvard University.
- China designated brain-computer interface technology a national priority in March 2026, raising U.S. national security concerns as the military explores neurotechnologies for enhanced mental agility.
- Security experts argue his recruitment highlights gaps in U.S. research oversight and export controls, while Lieber declined to comment, citing "current commitments.
26 Articles
26 Articles
Harvard scientist convicted of lying about China ties rebuilds brain-tech lab in China
Charles Lieber, a former Harvard scientist convicted of hiding financial ties to a Chinese university, has reportedly rebuilt his brain-computer interface lab in Shenzhen, China.
Malay Mail
AlKhaleej Today‘Wanted to win a Nobel Prize’: Convicted ex‑Harvard scientist now leads China’s state‑funded brain‑interface lab
Charles Lieber leads China’s i-BRAIN lab with advanced resources and state fundingLab is recruiting researchers for studies on monkeys as models for human brain-computer interfacesCase highlights limits of US safeguards on technology with military uses, analysts saySHENZHEN, May 1 — An American scientist convicted of lying to US authorities about payments from China while he was at Harvard University has rebuilt his research lab in Shenzhen to p…
Former Harvard scientist rebuilds brain computer lab in China
An American scientist convicted of lying to U.S. authorities about payments from China while he was at Harvard University has rebuilt his research lab in Shenzhen to pursue technology the Chinese government has identified as a national priority: embedding electronics into the human brain.
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