In Abu Dhabi's labs, researchers have engineered something that sounds like science fiction but is very real: a device smaller than a seed that could transform how doctors treat chronic pain and movement disorders, all without a single surgical incision, battery, or trailing wire.
Researchers from NYU Abu Dhabi, working alongside colleagues at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, have created an injectable medical device that delivers electrical signals to control nerve activity with remarkable precision. The breakthrough addresses a genuine problem in modern medicine: many neurological treatments today require major surgery to implant devices, demand bulky batteries, or rely on medications that don't work for everyone. This new approach offers a fundamentally simpler path.
The device works through elegant simplicity. It's small enough to fit through a standard medical needle and can be placed directly near a target nerve. Once positioned—and doctors can confirm placement using conventional ultrasound or CT imaging—it delivers programmable electrical stimulation that influences how the nerve behaves. The real innovation is the wireless power system: the device draws energy from outside the body, meaning doctors or patients can adjust its activity in real time without opening the patient back up.
In laboratory and preclinical testing, the device demonstrated exactly what researchers hoped for: precise control over nerve stimulation and consistent performance under realistic conditions. It successfully activated nerves in live tissue, moving from theoretical promise to proof of real-world potential. "This technology has the potential to bridge the gap between noninvasive therapies and traditional implants," said Dr. Mohamed Elsherif, research associate at NYU Abu Dhabi and the study's first author. "It opens the door to treatments that are both effective and easy to deliver, which could significantly improve patient care."
Prof. Khalil Ramadi, the study's senior author and an assistant professor of bioengineering at NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Tandon, frames the shift in perspective clearly: "By creating a device that can be injected rather than surgically implanted, we are making these therapies simpler, safer and more accessible, while still maintaining precise control over nerve activity."
The implications ripple outward. For patients, this means shorter procedures, faster recovery, and lower infection risk. For healthcare systems, it means reducing the costs and complexity of implant surgery. The device doesn't replace all existing treatments—medications and traditional implants remain valuable options depending on each patient's specific needs. Instead, it fills a gap that has long existed in the treatment landscape, offering precision without invasiveness.
The research, published in Science Advances in 2026, represents a collaboration that exemplifies how partnerships across institutions accelerate innovation. Dr. Sawsan Abdel-Razig, chief academic officer at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, emphasizes the importance: "By bringing together multidisciplinary expertise, this work highlights how academic partnerships can accelerate the development of safer, less invasive therapies and expand access to advanced treatments for patients."
For the millions of people living with chronic pain or movement disorders, this tiny device signals something larger: a future where effective treatment doesn't demand sacrifice. It's early-stage technology with real potential, born from the conviction that better care shouldn't come at the cost of major surgery.