Applications of human brain organoids

Abstract

The human brain is formed inside the womb. Current imaging technologies are not sensitive enough to investigate how human brains are formed at the molecular and cellular levels. By recreating neurodevelopment in the lab, we have a unique opportunity to learn how the human brain develops from the embryo. The brain organoid technology was initially developed by Dr. Yoshiki Sasai in 2008 [1]. His pioneer publication revealed that it was possible to push neural differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells in suspension and let the cells self-aggregate, after which they form a tissue that resembles the human fetal cortex. Several other labs have developed other improved ways to create brain organoids, making them more robust and more reliable [2]. Brain organoids are not fully vascularized, not all cell types are represented, and there are no optimized culture conditions to grow human brain organoids [3].