Researchers at the University of California San Diego, led by Alysson Muotri, have developed a protocol for creating miniature artificial brains with functioning neural networks. This advancement will allow scientists to conduct more advanced research on neurological disorders like autism and schizophrenia. The method creates tiny replicas of the human brain, so realistic they rival the complexity of the fetal brain’s neural network. These “mini brains” can be used to test potential therapeutic drugs and gene therapies before patient use. The research project is supported by a grant from Boryung, a South Korean healthcare investment company.
Groundbreaking Protocol for Creating Functional Miniature Brains
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed a novel protocol that enables the creation of highly realistic brain cortical organoids, or miniature artificial brains with functioning neural networks. This technique, published in Nature Protocols, is a significant advancement in the field of neuroscience, as it allows for more sophisticated research into neurological disorders such as autism and schizophrenia.
The brain’s structure in these disorders is typically normal, but the electrical activity is altered. This new method allows scientists to study these changes in a controlled environment. The protocol was developed by Alysson Muotri, Ph.D., director of the UC San Diego Sanford Stem Cell Institute (SSCI) Integrated Space Stem Cell Orbital Research Center.
The Complexity of the Fetal Brain’s Neural Network
The protocol developed by Muotri and his team enables the creation of tiny replicas of the human brain that rival “the complexity of the fetal brain’s neural network.” These brain replicas have already been sent to the International Space Station (ISS) for study under microgravity conditions.
Unlike other publicly accessible protocols for creating brain organoids, Muotri’s method allows researchers to study the brain’s electrical activity. This is a significant advancement as it allows for the study of neural networks created from the stem cells of patients with various neurodevelopmental conditions.
Potential Applications of Miniature Brains
These “mini brains” have a wide range of potential applications. They can be used to test potentially therapeutic drugs and even gene therapies before patient use, as well as to screen for efficacy and side effects. Muotri and his team are already planning to use these organoids to investigate Amazonian tribal remedies for Alzheimer’s disease.
The research project, which spans multiple continents and habitats, from the Amazon rainforest to Muotri’s lab in California, and eventually to the ISS, is being funded by a Humans in Space grant awarded by Boryung, a South Korean health care investment company.
Space-Based Experiments and Disease Modeling
In addition to drug testing, the brain organoids also offer possibilities for disease modeling, understanding human consciousness, and further space-based experiments. In partnership with NASA, Muotri sent a number of brain organoids made from the stem cells of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) to space. The payload returned in May, and the results are currently being reviewed.
Microgravity mimics an accelerated version of Earth-based aging, allowing researchers to observe the effects of several years of disease progression in a short period of time. This could lead to novel findings and a deeper understanding of these diseases.
Funding and Disclosure
The research was supported by numerous grants from the National Institutes of Health, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, and the Department of Defense. Muotri is a cofounder and has equity interest in TISMOO, a company dedicated to genetic analysis and brain organoid modeling focusing on therapeutic applications customized for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurological disorders with genetic origins. He is also the inventor of several patents related to human functional brain organogenesis, including the protocol described in the new publication.
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