Lieber, 67, was convicted in 2021 of making false statements to US authorities and failing to disclose payments linked to a Chinese university. After serving a brief prison term, home confinement, and paying financial penalties, he has since relocated to Shenzhen, where he now heads a state-backed research initiative.
He is currently overseeing i-BRAIN — the Institute for Brain Research, Advanced Interfaces and Neurotechnologies — a facility operating under the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation. The institute focuses on embedding electronics into the human brain, a technology that has shown promise in treating neurological disorders such as paralysis and ALS.
At a conference in Shenzhen, Lieber said he arrived in China in April 2025 with the goal of helping the city become a global leader in advanced scientific research.
His new laboratory is supported by significant state funding and infrastructure, including advanced chip fabrication tools and access to primate research facilities — resources that were either limited or unavailable to him during his tenure at Harvard University. The availability of such facilities is considered critical in advancing invasive brain-interface technologies from experimental stages to human application.
Experts note that primate research plays a key role in bridging laboratory innovation and clinical use, though such work faces stricter regulatory and ethical constraints in the United States.
Lieber’s return to high-level research has drawn attention among policy analysts, who argue it reflects broader challenges in preventing the transfer of sensitive technologies. Some point to China’s military-civil fusion strategy, which integrates civilian scientific advancements into defence capabilities, raising concerns about dual-use technologies like brain-computer interfaces.
The Chinese government has identified this field as a national priority, with officials projecting it could drive the development of a major new high-tech sector in the coming decade. At the same time, US agencies, including defence research bodies, are also investing in similar technologies for applications ranging from healthcare to cybersecurity and defence systems.
Lieber’s case has also been cited in debates over the effectiveness of US policies aimed at countering technology transfer risks. While his conviction was seen as a notable outcome under a broader initiative targeting economic espionage, critics argue it did little to prevent continued global competition over advanced research and talent.
Despite his past legal troubles, Lieber has resumed work at the forefront of neuroscience and nanotechnology, positioning himself once again within a rapidly evolving and strategically significant field.
