Chicago – April 30, 2026
A convicted former Harvard scientist has rebuilt his research career in China, where he now leads a Shenzhen-based lab focused on brain-computer interfaces. Charles Lieber, once a prominent Harvard chemist, is overseeing i-BRAIN under the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation, a state-funded institute tied to China’s push to advance neural technology.
Lieber was convicted in 2021 of making false statements to U.S. federal investigators about his ties to China and of tax-related offenses. After his sentencing, he moved to Shenzhen in April 2025 and later described his goal as helping make the city a world leader in brain-computer research.
The new lab has access to nanofabrication tools and primate research facilities that were not available to him at Harvard. The work is aimed at medical uses such as restoring movement in paralyzed patients, but the technology also carries potential military interest, heightening scrutiny of China’s growing investment in the field.
