Miniaturized and simplified version of an organ
POPULARITY
Soon-to-arrive drugs promise to address elevated Lp(a); Best natural alternatives to repel mosquitoes and ticks; When cancer treatments cause osteoporosis; Organoids and computer simulations promise to reduce the toll of live animal experimentation; Land snails and pythons yield clues for new drug development; Shortfall in doctors accelerated by early retirement as physicians cite “hassle factor.”
Dear Family and Friends,Here is RLR 211, where we discuss:WAITING FOR THE SIGNAL - MAGNIFICA HUMANITAS - ORGANOID INTELLIGENCE - DIGITAL SPIRITSThank you for your valuable support. I hope to see you soon.Alexander Alfano+1 305 450 8550aalfano@lawalfano.com
Only one in three eligible lung cancer patients receives the targeted therapy they should get.That is not a failure of science.It is a failure of delivery.After more than two decades of precision oncology, biopharma has never had better tools: cell and gene therapy, in vivo CAR-T, antibody-drug conjugates, AI-enabled diagnostics, organoids, multi-omics, and global clinical data.Yet too many breakthroughs still fail to reach the bedside.Patients fall through fragmented systems.Data does not move cleanly.Community oncologists are overloaded.Tests are missed, delayed, or misread.Promising assets die in quarterly portfolio reviews.And healthcare systems built for pills, tablets, and chronic disease management are now being asked to deliver personalized medicine at scale.In this SPARK20 highlight episode, Alasdair Milton, PhD, Principal at KPMG and leader of the firm's Precision & Advanced Therapies practice, explains why the future of biopharma will not be decided by science alone.It will be decided by translation.From lab bench to boardroom.From data to decisions.From treatment to prevention.Alasdair brings more than 20 years of experience across life sciences strategy, commercial due diligence, precision medicine, advanced therapies, cell and gene therapy, biopharma M&A, diagnostics, and global healthcare transformation.This conversation moves from the precision medicine delivery crisis to China's biotech acceleration, from AI and organoids to trapped pharma assets, from lifelong wellness to the one skill every future biotech leader needs:The ability to translate complex science into business strategy, capital allocation, and patient impact.What You'll Learn in 22 MinutesWhy only one third of eligible lung cancer patients receive targeted therapy(00:01:53)And why precision medicine still breaks in everyday clinical practice.Why science keeps compounding even when systems fail(00:04:33)Including in vivo CAR-T, functional cures, gene therapy, and antibody-drug conjugates.Why innovation does not move in a straight line(00:05:20)How technologies can look dead for years before suddenly changing the market.Why China's biotech speed matters(00:07:36)How AI, organoids, scale, and execution are changing the global innovation map.Why great science dies inside Big Pharma(00:09:20)And how deprioritized assets can become billion-dollar companies when externalized properly.Why the industry must move from sickness to lifelong wellness(00:10:03)Alasdair's vision for a more proactive, preventive, data-driven healthcare system.Why pharma needs better ways to rescue shelved assets(00:13:06)Including examples such as SpringWorks, Cerevel, and new models for unlocking trapped value.How a 400-person Scottish island shaped Alasdair's worldview(00:15:07)The personal story behind his resilience, discipline, and leadership style.Why careers and companies are never linear(00:17:19)What Alasdair learned after moving to Boston and losing his role within weeks.Why the future belongs to translators(00:20:06)The most valuable skill in biotech: explaining complex science to business leaders, investors, and boards.How to connect with Alasdair Milton and the KPMG Precision & Advanced Therapies team(00:21:47)Quotes to Carry With You
In this podcast episode, MRS Bulletin's Sophia Chen interviews Samual Stupp from Northwestern University about his group's research on developing treatments for spinal cord injuries by use of an organoid. The researchers fabricated the human spinal cord organoid by including microglial cells, which are the immune cells in the central nervous system. They mimicked various kinds of spinal injuries, then applied different injury treatments to see how the organoid responded best. This work was published in a recent issue of Nature Biomedical Engineering.
Women's health has been one of medicine's most overlooked frontiers — and the data gap is decades deep. In this episode, Eric Malzone sits down with Anaelle Oiknine, clinical development lead at Ultrahuman, to unpack why the majority of drugs, exercise prescriptions, and health metrics have historically been built around male physiology — and what that's cost women. From the thalidomide tragedy of the 1950s to the ongoing research mismatch around endometriosis, Anaelle breaks down the systemic failures that left half the population underserved, and why the tide is finally turning. She shares what continuous wearable data is revealing about the female body that annual OB-GYN visits never could — including how Ultrahuman's cycle and ovulation tracking has flagged PCOS and endometriosis before a physician's diagnosis. If you're a fitness professional, wellness practitioner, or just someone who wants to understand why cycle-based training is the next major evolution in personalized health, this conversation is where you start. Key Takeaways:
Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 5-07-2026: Dr. Dawn debunks the 1971 "220 minus age" maximum heart rate formula, noting a 2025 study found individual predictions were off by up to 20 beats per minute. She recommends the Tanaka equation (208 minus age) times 0.7, but emphasizes tracking improvement trends rather than absolute numbers. ConsumerLab testing found Safe Catch Wild Elite Pure Tuna and Wild Ahi Yellowfin Tuna had no detectable mercury, prompting Dr. Dawn to reconsider eating tuna after years of avoidance due to concerns about mercury bioaccumulation and its effects on nerve microtubules. A meta-analysis of 115 studies involving 55,000 men found limiting ejaculation before IVF leads to increased sperm DNA damage and poorer motility. Clinical trials showed 46% IVF pregnancy rates with less than 48 hours abstinence versus 36% with longer periods. A personalized mRNA vaccine for pancreatic cancer showed striking results: of 16 patients whose tumors were surgically removed, half produced killer T-cells targeting cancer, and seven of those eight remain alive six years later. Pfizer and Valneva's Lyme disease vaccine reduced infection by over 70% in a trial of 9,400 people ages five and up. Nearly half a million Americans contract Lyme annually, and chronic infection can cause nervous system damage and chronic fatigue. Dr. Dawn explores the gray-market peptide ecosystem, where compounds are sold as "research chemicals" with wink-and-nod marketing. A 2018 Belgian study found purity levels ranging from 5% to 99.9%, with some samples containing arsenic, lead, or industrial contaminants. A study of 450 people found that blocking smartphone internet access for two weeks improved sustained attention equivalent to reversing 10 years of age-related cognitive decline, with depression symptom improvements comparable to cognitive behavioral therapy. A multi-country study of 241 unresponsive patients found that 25% showed brain activity indicating consciousness when asked to imagine playing tennis during advanced brain scans. Scientists call this cognitive motor dissociation, and by some estimates tens of thousands of Americans may be misdiagnosed. Chinese researchers grew functional adrenal cortex organoids that responded to pituitary hormones and produced cortisol when transplanted into mice. They also introduced genetic mutations to create organoid models of Cushing's syndrome for drug testing. A Science paper identified the neural pathway connecting psychological stress to eczema flare-ups: sympathetic neurons from the stellate ganglion recruit eosinophils to the skin. Researchers traced the pathway using pseudo-rabies virus injected into skin. Mouse studies showed prenatal stress causes elevated corticosterone in amniotic fluid, which activates fetal mast cells derived from the yolk sac. Offspring develop eczema-like lesions in areas receiving mechanical stimulation, but symptoms resolve around 24 weeks when bone marrow-derived mast cells replace the activated ones. Callers ask about CBN side effects. Dr. Dawn explains cannabinoids prolong anandamide's calming effects by slowing its breakdown, and considers 30-45mg over a night reasonable, but cautions against escalating doses given limited research.
Drugs to manage symptoms of Alzheimer's disease may work in some people but not in others. Now a new method using brain organoids, which are derived from a person's own blood sample, may help determine whether a specific medication is … Can drugs to manage Alzheimer's disease be tested in organoids? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
This month we're chatting with Dr. Ewelina Kurtys on the uses of organoids and energy saving computing, the unknowns in neural science, differences between biological neurons and digital neural networks, how neurons operate and encoding information, the impractical nature of recreating brain structures, the tendency to anthropomorphise, determinism and more...
Join Daniel Delubac, CEO of IORGANBIO, for a deep dive into the breakthrough technologies reshaping modern medicine. From non-invasive prenatal testing to the first AI-agentic platforms for synthetic chemistry, Daniel has been at the center of the world's most significant biotech innovations. In this episode, we explore how IORGANBIO is merging first-principles engineering with AI to manufacture human bioequivalent cells and organoids at scale—replacing outdated animal models and paving the way for accessible, $n$-of-one regenerative medicine.
This interview was recorded for GOTO State of the Art in January 2026.https://gotopia.techRead the full transcription of this interview here:https://gotopia.tech/articles/423Dr. Ewelina Kurtys - Strategic Advisor on Frontier Technologies at FinalSparkCharles Humble - Freelance Techie, Podcaster, Editor, Author & ConsultantRESOURCESEwelinahttps://x.com/ewelina_kurtyshttps://github.com/ewelinaewelahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ewelinakurtyshttps://www.ewelinakurtys.comCharleshttps://bsky.app/profile/charleshumble.bsky.socialhttps://linkedin.com/in/charleshumblehttps://mastodon.social/@charleshumblehttps://conissaunce.comLinkshttps://finalspark.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/pulse/biologically-inspired-computing-dr-ewelina-kurtys-udnhehttps://finalspark.com/finalspark-6-month-research-technology-updatehttps://finalspark.com/first-publication-from-a-neuroplatform-userDESCRIPTIONDr. Ewelina Kurtys, Strategy Advisor at FinalSpark, discusses the revolutionary potential of biological computing with host Charles Humble.The conversation explores FinalSpark's ambitious goal to build computers using living neurons that are 1 million times more energy efficient than current digital systems. Ewelina explains the technical challenges of working with brain organoids, the ethical considerations of using human stem cells, and why biological neurons could dramatically reduce AI costs while offering unique advantages for complex tasks like generative AI.The interview covers everything from neural encoding and plasticity to consciousness and the deterministic nature of the brain.RECOMMENDED BOOKSRobert M. Sapolsk • Determined • https://amzn.to/4akv2giJin Xu • Biological Computing • https://amzn.to/4a4Wwp9BlueskyInstagramLinkedInFacebookCHANNEL MEMBERSHIP BONUSJoin this channel to get early access to videos & other perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs_tLP3AiwYKwdUHpltJPuA/joinLooking for a unique learning experience?Attend the next GOTO conference near you! Get your ticket: gotopia.techSUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL - new videos posted daily!
Show Notes 6 March 2026Story 1: Scientists Grew Mini Brains, Then Trained Them to Solve an Engineering ProblemSource: ScienceAlert.com Link:https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-grew-mini-brains-then-trained-them-to-solve-an-engineering-problem200,000 living human brain cells just learned to play Doom and this is just the start of itSource: ZME Science Link:https://www.zmescience.com/science/wetware-brain-doom-play/Story 2: Sub-$200 Lidar Could Reshuffle Auto[mobile] Sensor EconomicsSource: IEEE Spectrum Link:https://spectrum.ieee.org/solid-state-lidar-microvision-adasAdditional Info:https://microvision.com/Story 3: Magical Marvel: Tiny Fairy-Like Robot Flies by the Power of Wind and LightSource: SciTechDaily.comLink:https://scitechdaily.com/magical-marvel-tiny-fairy-like-robot-flies-by-the-power-of-wind-and-light/Story 4: Scientists uncover why some brain cells resist Alzheimer's diseaseSource: UCLA Newsroom Link:https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/scientists-uncover-why-some-brain-cells-resist-alzheimers-diseaseResearch Paper:https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(25)01487-4Honorable MentionsNew plastic material could solve energy storage challenge, researchers reportSource: PennState NewsLink:https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/new-plastic-material-could-solve-energy-storage-challenge-researchers-reportResearch Paper:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10195-2Why Perovskite LEDs Might Soon Replace Every Light in Your HomeSource: ZME ScienceLink:https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/why-perovskite-could-replace-normal-leds/Neither classical nor quantum: This computer lets light solve complex calculations Source: Interesting EngineeringLink:https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/computer-uses-light-to-solve-calculationsA new flexible AI chip for smart wearables is thinner than a human hairSource: TechXplore.com
EPISODE SUMMARY What if we could predict whether a drug will work for a specific person before they ever take it? In this episode, Claudia Garbutt interviews Israeli neuroscientist and biotech entrepreneur Dr. Nisim Perets, founder of Itay&Beyond — a company pioneering patient-derived brain organoids on a chip to accelerate precision medicine for neurological and psychiatric conditions like Autism Spectrum Disorder and epilepsy. Dr. Perets and his team are growing miniature brain tissues from a patient's own cells, placing them on a chip, and measuring their electrical activity to predict how that specific brain might respond to medication. Yes — really. Mini Brains. Massive Breakthroughs. We talked about... Using lab-grown brain tissue to predict drug responses Neuroscience, nanoparticles & synthetic biology Precision medicine for autism, epilepsy, and psychiatric disorders EPISODE NOTES Dr. Nisim Perets is an Israeli neuroscientist and biotech entrepreneur specializing in drug development, targeted delivery systems, and advanced neurotechnologies. His work focuses on translating cutting-edge neuroscience into real-world therapeutic solutions, including patient-derived lab-grown brain tissues on a chip. Dr. Perets has published multiple high-impact scientific papers and is the inventor of more than ten medical patents. He was part of the scientific founding team of NurExone Biologic (NRX), a company developing nanoparticle-based therapies designed to promote recovery after severe spinal cord injuries. In 2021, he founded Itay&Beyond, a biotechnology company pioneering personalized brain-on-a-chip platforms. The company develops patient-derived lab-grown brain tissues (Organoids) to predict drug efficacy for neurological and psychiatric conditions before clinical use, including Autism Spectrum Disorder and epilepsy, aiming to transform precision medicine in the brain sciences. The company is named after the son of one of the founders, Itay, a young man with low-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders Links: https://itayandbeyond.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/nisimperets/ --------- Click this link to listen on your favorite podcast player and if you enjoy the show, please leave a rating & review: https://linktr.ee/wiredforsuccess ------------------ Music credit: Vittoro by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue) ----------------- Disclaimer: Podcast Episodes might contain sponsored content.
Humans live in a world of ideas—born in the brain, shared through language, accumulated in culture across generations, and made reality. Professor Alysson Muotri, UC San Diego Departments of Pediatrics and Cellular and Molecular Medicine, examines how human brain evolution reflects the interplay between genetic innovation and environmental pressures, focusing on Neuro-oncological ventral antigen 1 (NOVA1), an evolutionarily conserved splicing regulator essential for neural development with a protein-coding substitution unique to modern humans compared with Neanderthals and Denisovans. By reintroducing the archaic NOVA1 allele into human induced pluripotent stem cells and studying cortical organoids, the work finds accelerated maturation, increased surface complexity, altered synaptic marker expression, and changes in electrophysiological properties. Muotri also analyzes long-term lead exposure using fossilized teeth from multiple hominid species spanning over two million years, revealing pervasive exposure across extinct and extant hominids. Lead exposure selectively disrupted FOXP2 expression in cortical and thalamic organoids carrying the archaic NOVA1 variant, and findings were independently validated in NOVA1 humanized mouse models with altered vocalization. Together, these results suggest gene–environment interactions may have influenced neural circuit development, social behavior, and complex language capacity. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Science] [Show ID: 41297]
Humans live in a world of ideas—born in the brain, shared through language, accumulated in culture across generations, and made reality. Professor Alysson Muotri, UC San Diego Departments of Pediatrics and Cellular and Molecular Medicine, examines how human brain evolution reflects the interplay between genetic innovation and environmental pressures, focusing on Neuro-oncological ventral antigen 1 (NOVA1), an evolutionarily conserved splicing regulator essential for neural development with a protein-coding substitution unique to modern humans compared with Neanderthals and Denisovans. By reintroducing the archaic NOVA1 allele into human induced pluripotent stem cells and studying cortical organoids, the work finds accelerated maturation, increased surface complexity, altered synaptic marker expression, and changes in electrophysiological properties. Muotri also analyzes long-term lead exposure using fossilized teeth from multiple hominid species spanning over two million years, revealing pervasive exposure across extinct and extant hominids. Lead exposure selectively disrupted FOXP2 expression in cortical and thalamic organoids carrying the archaic NOVA1 variant, and findings were independently validated in NOVA1 humanized mouse models with altered vocalization. Together, these results suggest gene–environment interactions may have influenced neural circuit development, social behavior, and complex language capacity. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Science] [Show ID: 41297]
CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (Video)
Humans live in a world of ideas—born in the brain, shared through language, accumulated in culture across generations, and made reality. Professor Alysson Muotri, UC San Diego Departments of Pediatrics and Cellular and Molecular Medicine, examines how human brain evolution reflects the interplay between genetic innovation and environmental pressures, focusing on Neuro-oncological ventral antigen 1 (NOVA1), an evolutionarily conserved splicing regulator essential for neural development with a protein-coding substitution unique to modern humans compared with Neanderthals and Denisovans. By reintroducing the archaic NOVA1 allele into human induced pluripotent stem cells and studying cortical organoids, the work finds accelerated maturation, increased surface complexity, altered synaptic marker expression, and changes in electrophysiological properties. Muotri also analyzes long-term lead exposure using fossilized teeth from multiple hominid species spanning over two million years, revealing pervasive exposure across extinct and extant hominids. Lead exposure selectively disrupted FOXP2 expression in cortical and thalamic organoids carrying the archaic NOVA1 variant, and findings were independently validated in NOVA1 humanized mouse models with altered vocalization. Together, these results suggest gene–environment interactions may have influenced neural circuit development, social behavior, and complex language capacity. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Science] [Show ID: 41297]
Humans live in a world of ideas—born in the brain, shared through language, accumulated in culture across generations, and made reality. Professor Alysson Muotri, UC San Diego Departments of Pediatrics and Cellular and Molecular Medicine, examines how human brain evolution reflects the interplay between genetic innovation and environmental pressures, focusing on Neuro-oncological ventral antigen 1 (NOVA1), an evolutionarily conserved splicing regulator essential for neural development with a protein-coding substitution unique to modern humans compared with Neanderthals and Denisovans. By reintroducing the archaic NOVA1 allele into human induced pluripotent stem cells and studying cortical organoids, the work finds accelerated maturation, increased surface complexity, altered synaptic marker expression, and changes in electrophysiological properties. Muotri also analyzes long-term lead exposure using fossilized teeth from multiple hominid species spanning over two million years, revealing pervasive exposure across extinct and extant hominids. Lead exposure selectively disrupted FOXP2 expression in cortical and thalamic organoids carrying the archaic NOVA1 variant, and findings were independently validated in NOVA1 humanized mouse models with altered vocalization. Together, these results suggest gene–environment interactions may have influenced neural circuit development, social behavior, and complex language capacity. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Science] [Show ID: 41297]
Humans live in a world of ideas—born in the brain, shared through language, accumulated in culture across generations, and made reality. Professor Alysson Muotri, UC San Diego Departments of Pediatrics and Cellular and Molecular Medicine, examines how human brain evolution reflects the interplay between genetic innovation and environmental pressures, focusing on Neuro-oncological ventral antigen 1 (NOVA1), an evolutionarily conserved splicing regulator essential for neural development with a protein-coding substitution unique to modern humans compared with Neanderthals and Denisovans. By reintroducing the archaic NOVA1 allele into human induced pluripotent stem cells and studying cortical organoids, the work finds accelerated maturation, increased surface complexity, altered synaptic marker expression, and changes in electrophysiological properties. Muotri also analyzes long-term lead exposure using fossilized teeth from multiple hominid species spanning over two million years, revealing pervasive exposure across extinct and extant hominids. Lead exposure selectively disrupted FOXP2 expression in cortical and thalamic organoids carrying the archaic NOVA1 variant, and findings were independently validated in NOVA1 humanized mouse models with altered vocalization. Together, these results suggest gene–environment interactions may have influenced neural circuit development, social behavior, and complex language capacity. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Science] [Show ID: 41297]
What is in the This Week in Science Podcast? This Week: Life on Mars, Interstellar Water, Snakes, PFAS, Wind Farms, Sea Silk, Frogs, Zebra Finches, Organoids, Brain Training, Alzheimer's, and Much More Science to Know! Become a Patron! Check out the full unedited episode of our science podcast on YouTube or Twitch. And remember that […] The post 18 February, 2026 – Episode 1048 – When Do We Know Enough? appeared first on This Week in Science - The Kickass Science Podcast.
The genetic variants initially affect brain development in unique ways, but over time they converge on common molecular pathways.
Last year, the FDA announced it would be phasingout animal testing requirements for some therapies. The NIHfollowed suit. According to Thomas Hartung, professor and chair at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, these policy shifts are an “overdue adaptation to scientific progress.” In this special edition of The Weekly, Hartung discusses howartificial intelligence (AI) and various non-animal models such as human organoids will transform drug development and delivery, especially now that the regulatory side is catching up. The FDA Modernization Act, now making its way through Congress, codifies the FDA's stated goal of starting to move away from animal testing. And in making that announcement last year, the FDA put out a roadmap for how to do this. In May, Hartung will attend the National Biotechnology Conference in San Diego as a keynote speaker. BioSpace is a media partner of the meeting, and Managing Editor Jef Akst will also attend to moderate the executive track. The 2026 National Biotechnology Conference runs May 11–14.You can find the agenda here.
In which Arvind Thiagarajan, Co-founder and CTO of Tessel Biosciences, shares how he is combining organoid models with active learning algorithms to generate clinically-relevant data with greater experimental efficiency to ultimately develop novel therapeutics. He also discusses how his prior experiences at MIT, D.E Shaw, BenevolentAI, and Verily each shaped his career and worldview into the engineer and founder he is today. Hosted by Kevin Xu.Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(05:30) Takeaways from DESRES, BenevolentAI, and Verily(15:57) Speed, cost, and success rate trends in drug development(33:37) Core research workflow of Tessel Bio(44:09) Tesselogic and active learning(47:01) Coordinating wet-lab and dry-lab innovations(50:19) Advice for aspiring scientist-foundersLinks: Tessel Biosciences - https://tessel.bio/
Using induced stem cells helps create models for diseases like Alzheimer's disease that can be studied in a lab, but now three dimensional cell collections called organoids can also be developed from stem cells. Vasiliki Machairaki, a cell engineering expert … What is an organoid? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Dr. John Fleetham chats with Dr. Barbro N Melgert and Dr. Chris Carlsten about their articles, "Inhalable Textile Microplastic Fibers Impair Airway Epithelial Differentiation" and "Inhaled Microplastics and Airway Development: Concerning Evidence from Organoids."
In the second episode of the series, Vallier dives into clinical translation of research to different forms of liver disease, exploring how organoids may serve as an alternative to liver transplantation, and how immune compatibility differs between the two. Timestamps:00:59 – Organoids versus transplantation 02:52 – Organoid immune compatibility 04:58 – Chronic liver diseases 06:15 – Clinical application
Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 1-15-2026: An emailer from Switzerland asks about fluorescein angiography requested before her first retina appointment. Dr. Dawn suspects protocol-based medicine screening for macular degeneration and suggests negotiating to see the doctor first given her different reason for seeing a retinal specialist. She encourages patients to maintain agency in medical settings. An emailer asks about creatine supplements. Dr. Dawn notes it helps muscle development in people doing weight training at 3-5 grams daily, but does nothing for aerobic-only exercisers. Claims about cognition and mood lack solid research. She advises against high-dose "loading," and cautions that creatine causes fluid retention problematic for congestive heart failure and should be avoided with stage 3 or higher kidney disease. Dr. Dawn reminds listeners it's not too late for flu shots, noting this season's H3N2 strain emerged after vaccine formulation was finalized. She laments mRNA vaccine research defunding, as that technology allows rapid reformulation. She describes organoids—tissues grown from stem cells that self-organize into primitive organ structures, enabling rapid drug screening without animal testing. Stanford researchers created assembloids by placing four neurological organoids together that spontaneously connected and built the ascending sensory pain pathway, offering new approaches to studying chronic pain. Dr. Dawn explains research showing satellite glial cells transfer healthy mitochondria to spinal sensory neurons through tunneling nanotubules. When this transfer fails, neurons fire erratically causing pain. Infusing healthy mitochondria into mouse spinal columns cured peripheral neuropathy—suggesting future periodic infusion treatments for humans. She reports Texas A&M researchers created "nanoflowers" from molybdenum disulfate that double stem cell's mitochondrial production, potentially supercharging regenerative medicine for conditions including Alzheimer's and muscular dystrophy. A caller asks about flu vaccines with egg allergy. Dr. Dawn explains that his gastrointestinal reactions to eggs differ from dangerous IgE allergies causing hives or anaphylaxis—GI intolerance doesn't preclude vaccination. Dr. Dawn reveals that 20 years of Parkinson's research followed a false lead. MRI showed increased iron in patients' brains, prompting iron chelation trials—which worsened symptoms. The problem: MRI detects paramagnetic ferric iron (stored, inert) not ferrous iron (biologically active). Patients accumulate useless ferric iron but are deficient in usable ferrous iron. Earlier 1980s studies showing that iron supplementation helped were ignored and abandoned prematurely. She suggests Parkinson's patients discuss iron supplementation with neurologists. She will post the link in the resources page on her website. A caller concerned about early Parkinson's describes tremors and balance problems in darkness. Dr. Dawn suggests darkness-related symptoms sound more like peripheral neuropathy than Parkinson's, recommending neurological examination and screening for diabetes, B vitamin deficiency, or heavy metal exposure. She confirms that sedentary lifestyle reduces mitochondrial production while progressive exercise builds both muscle and mitochondria.
When neuroscientist Madeline Lancaster was a brand new postdoc, she accidentally used an expired protein gel in a lab experiment and noticed something weird. The stem cells she was trying to grow in a dish were self-assembling. The result? Madeline was the first person ever to grow what she called a “cerebral organoid,” a tiny, 3D version of a human brain the size of a peppercorn.In about a decade, these mini human brain balls were everywhere. They were revealing bombshell secrets about how our brains develop in the womb, helping treat advanced cancer patients, being implanted into animals, even playing the video game Pong. But what are they? Are these brain balls capable of sensing, feeling, learning, being? Are they tiny, trapped humans? And if they were, how would we know?Special thanks to Lynn Levy, Jason Yamada-Hanff, David Fajgenbaum, Andrew Verstein, Anne Hamilton, Christopher Mason, Madeline Mason-Mariarty, the team at the Boston Museum of Science, and Howard Fine, Stefano Cirigliano, and the team at Weill-Cornell. EPISODE CREDITS: Reported by - Latif Nasserwith help from - Mona MadgavkarProduced by - Annie McEwen, Mona Madgavkar, and Pat Walterswith mixing help from - Jeremy BloomFact-checking by - Natalie Middleton and Rebecca Randand Edited by - Alex Neason and Pat WaltersEPISODE CITATIONS:Videos - “Growing Mini Brains to Discover What Makes Us Human,” Madeline Lancaster's TEDxCERN Talk, Nov 2015 (https://zpr.io/6WP7xfA27auR)Brain cells playing Pong (https://zpr.io/pqgSqguJeAPK)Reuters report on CL1 computer launch in March 2025 (https://zpr.io/cdMf8Yjvayyd) Articles - Madeline Lancaster: The accidental organoid – mini-brains as models for human brain development (https://zpr.io/nnwFwUwnm2p6), MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology What We Can Learn From Brain Organoids (https://zpr.io/frUfsg4pxKsb), by Carl Zimmer. NYT, November 6, 2025Ethical Issues Related to Brain Organoid Research (https://zpr.io/qyiATHEhdnSa), by Insoo Hyun et al, Brain Research, 2020 Brain organoids get cancer, too, opening a new frontier in personalized medicine (https://zpr.io/nqMCQ) STAT Profile of Howard Fine and his lab's glioblastoma research at Weill Cornell Medical Center: By re-creating neural pathway in dish, Stanford Medicine research may speed pain treatment (https://zpr.io/UnegZeQZfqn2) Stanford Medicine profile of Sergiu Pasca's research on pain in organoids A brief history of organoids (https://zpr.io/waSbUCSrL9va) by Corrò et al, American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology, Books - Carl Zimmer Life's Edge: The Search for What it Means to be Alive (https://carlzimmer.com/books/lifes-edge/)Sign up for our newsletter!! It includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Signup (https://radiolab.org/newsletter)!Radiolab is supported by listeners like you. Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab (https://members.radiolab.org/) today.Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @radiolab, and share your thoughts with us by emailing radiolab@wnyc.org.Leadership support for Radiolab's science programming is provided by the Simons Foundation and the John Templeton Foundation. Foundational support for Radiolab was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Ep 113 — 2026 Predictions: What's Coming, What's Shifting, What's BreakingWelcome back to Event Horizon, the podcast where we stand at the edge of what we know, stare into the unknown, and try to make sense of the forces shaping our world. I'm your host, Mark Anthony Peterson — and today, we're closing the book on 2025.At the start of the year, I made ten bold predictions. Some were geopolitical. Some were scientific. Some were downright cosmic. And now, with the year behind us, it's time to hold those predictions up to the light and see which ones aligned with reality… and which ones the universe had other plans for.In this episode, we're not just reviewing a list — we're examining the pulse of a world in transition. A world where wars drag on, technologies accelerate, and global systems strain under pressure. A world where the improbable sometimes becomes possible… and the impossible occasionally taps us on the shoulder.So settle in. Let's revisit the forecasts, unpack what actually happened, and explore what these outcomes reveal about the future we're all hurtling toward.This is Episode 112 - 2026 Predictions: What's Coming, What's Shifting, What's Breaking******************Event Horizon's Social Media Information Instagram at @EventHorizon Email at mpeter1896@gmail.com Website at https://mpeter1896.wixsite.com/gururadio Subscribe To My Other Podcasts: Movie Reviews from the Edge - https://www.spreaker.com/show/movie-reviews-from-the-edge The Mark Peterson Show - https://www.spreaker.com/show/the_mark_peterson_show Support the Show: Join the Spreaker Supporter Club? For as little as $2.00 per month, you can help me grow the show and produce more episodes. Go to the show page on Spreaker and click on the Supporter Club! You can also make one-time donations at my CashApp or PayPal: CashApp - $mpeter1896 PayPal – mpeter1896@gmail.com Support the Show: Buy One Of My Books! Career Coaching Xs and Os: How To Master the Game of Career Development. Transform your career trajectory with insider knowledge and actionable advice, all packed into one game-changing guide. Support my Sponsors!
Mia Horowitz, PhD, Tel Aviv University; Aitor Aguirre, PhD, Michigan State University, Michigan, USA; and Ying Sun, PhD, University of Cincinnati, discuss the use of organoid models in lysosomal disorder research and drug development.This continuing education activity is provided through collaboration between the Lysosomal and Rare Disorders Research and Treatment Center (LDRTC), CheckRare CE, and AffinityCE. This activity provides continuing education credit for physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, and genetic counselors. A statement of participation is available to other attendees.To obtain CME/CE credit, visit https://checkrare.com/learning/p-grids2025-session3-organoids-and-lab-grown-models-in-lysosomal-disorders/Learning ObjectivesDescribe the use of heart organoid models to better understand the pathophysiology of lysosomal disorders and its clinical relevanceDescribe the use and application of brain organoid models in neuropathic Gaucher disease research and treatmentFacultyMia Horowitz, PhD, Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University.Aitor Aguirre, PhD, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Chief, Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology (IQ), Director, MSU Stem Cell Core, Michigan State University.Ying Sun, PhD, Professor, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati.DisclosuresAffinityCE staff, LDRTC staff, planners, and reviewers, have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. Faculty disclosures, listed below, will also be disclosed at the beginning of the Program.Mia Horowitz, PhDDr. Horowitz has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.Aitor Aguirre, PhDDr. Aguirre has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.Ying Sun, PhDDr. Sun receives research support from Enkefalos Biosciences and Yuhan Corporation.Mitigation of Relevant Financial RelationshipsAffinityCE adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others, are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity. Conflicts of interest for presenting faculty with relevant financial interests were resolved through peer review of content by a non-conflicted reviewer.Accreditation and Credit DesignationPhysiciansThis activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of AffinityCE and the LDRTC. AffinityCE is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.AffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.Physician AssistantsAffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physician Assistants should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.NursesAffinityCE is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation (ANCC). This activity provides a maximum of 1 hours of continuing nursing education credit.Nurse PractitionersAffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Nurse practitioners should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.Genetic CounselorsAffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Genetic Counselors should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.Other ProfessionalsAll other health care professionals completing this continuing education activity will be issued a statement of participation indicating the number of hours of continuing education credit. This may be used for professional education CE credit. Please consult your accrediting organization or licensing board for their acceptance of this CE activity. Participation CostsThere is no cost to participate in this activity.CME InquiriesFor all CME policy-related inquiries, please contact us at ce@affinityced.comSend customer support requests to cds_support+ldrtc@affinityced.com
The comprehensive resource details data on microcephaly, polymicrogyria, epilepsy and intellectual disability from 352 people.
Four experts weigh in on how to establish ethical guardrails for research on the 3D neuron clusters as these models become ever more complex.
Guest: Dr. Hans Clevers is a Professor of Molecular Genetics and Distinguished Group Leader at the University of Utrecht. In this episode, he discusses snake gut and lung organoids, transitioning from academia to industry, and the challenges and complexities of creating a cell therapy. (44:26) Featured Products and Resources: Registration and abstracts are open for the ISSCR 2026 annual meeting. Receive an offer to try IntestiCult in your lab. The Stem Cell Science Round Up Computers Made From Human Brain Cells – Researchers have shown that structured neuronal firing sequences appear in spontaneous activity of human and murine brain organoids. (2:37) Organoids Replicate Vascular Pathology – Scientists have developed a blood vessel organoid model from Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome-mutant hESCs. (12:01) Effects of Spaceflight on Stem Cells – Analyses of nine astronauts before, during, and after three short-duration International Space Station missions shows space-associated stem cell hallmarks of aging and resilience. (21:14) The Role of Lysosomes in HSC Aging – Reversing lysosomal dysfunction restores youthful state in aged hematopoietic stem cells. (33:25) Photo Reference: Courtesy of Hans Clevers Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Can AI ever be conscious?Philosopher and cognitive scientist Professor Susan Schneider joins Tevin to explore one of the most urgent questions in philosophy of mind, AI ethics, neuroscience, and the future of intelligence.Schneider is the former NASA Chair of Astrobiology & AI, author of Artificial You, and creator of multiple proposed tests for machine consciousness - including ACT (the AI Consciousness Test), Spectral Phi, and The Chip Test.This conversation dives into:• What consciousness is• Whether large language models could ever have inner experience• Why simulated emotions may be misleading• Quantum Darwinism & the “decoherence dance”• Moral status for artificial minds• The future of AI ethics, agency & existential risk• Why consciousness might be a “dual-use technology”A must-watch episode for anyone interested in consciousness, AI safety, philosophy, neuroscience, or quantum theories of mind.TIMESTAMPS:(0:00) – Intro & opening(0:06) – Defining consciousness: felt quality of experience (1:47) – Science of consciousness: neuroscience, information processing, meditation (2:57) – AI consciousness: global workspace & early systems (3:10) – Could AI have “something it's like to be”? (28:52) – Early machine phenomenology & simulated emotion (29:41) – Language as a non-biological intelligence substrate (31:01) – Dissociating self, consciousness, agency (39:25) – Organoid consciousness & macro-conscious systems (40:29) – Introducing ACT: The AI Consciousness Test (42:31) – Philosophical probing: Mary, Freaky Friday, altered states (45:39) – Can ACT work on biological intelligence or hybrid systems? (46:47) – The Chip Test: repairing consciousness with implants (49:00) – Spectral Phi explained: coherence, information flow, consciousness (50:06) – Penrose, retrocausality & quantum metaphysics (57:09) – Quantum Darwinism & the decoherence dance (59:07) – Why GPT is not conscious (quantum argument) (1:00:09) – Does the universe have purpose? Panpsychism vs physics (1:07:17) – Moral status for conscious machines? (1:27:26) – Consciousness as dual-use technology: existential risksEPISODE LINKS:- Susan's Website: https://schneiderwebsite.com/- Susan's Publications: https://philpeople.org/profiles/susan-schneider- Susan's X: https://twitter.com/DrSueSchneider- Susan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-schneider-29b972ab/- Center For The Future of AI, Mind & Society (AIMS): https://www.fau.edu/future-mind/CONNECT:- Website: https://mindbodysolution.org - YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MindBodySolution- Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/mindbodysolution- Twitter: https://twitter.com/drtevinnaidu- Facebook: https://facebook.com/drtevinnaidu - Instagram: https://instagram.com/drtevinnaidu- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/drtevinnaidu- Website: https://tevinnaidu.com=============================Disclaimer: The information provided on this channel is for educational purposes only. The content is shared in the spirit of open discourse and does not constitute, nor does it substitute, professional or medical advice. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of listening/watching any of our contents. You acknowledge that you use the information provided at your own risk. Listeners/viewers are advised to conduct their own research and consult with their own experts in the respective fields.
เปิดพอดแคสต์เอพิโสดนี้ใน YouTube เพื่อประสบการณ์การรับชมที่ดีที่สุด เมื่อพูดถึง ‘ออร์แกนอยด์' หลายคนอาจนึกถึงภาพในหนังไซไฟเทคโนโลยีสร้างร่างใหม่ให้มนุษย์ แต่วันนี้สิ่งนั้นได้เกิดขึ้นจริงแล้ว นั่นคือออร์แกนอยด์อวัยวะจิ๋วในจานเพาะเลี้ยง ที่ทำงานใกล้เคียงของจริง ตั้งแต่คัดกรองยา ไปจนถึงสร้างตับอ่อนรักษาเบาหวานและการสร้างอวัยวะอื่นๆ Secret Science เอพิโสดนี้ชวนฟังเคสจริงจากนักวิจัยไทย ผศ. ดร. สมพลนาท สัมปัตตะวนิช กรรมการบริหารสถานวิทยามะเร็งศิริราช และอาจารย์ประจำภาควิชาเภสัชวิทยา คณะแพทยศาสตร์ศิริราชพยาบาล และดร.ปัณณ์ อักษรวรวัฒน์ อาจารย์ภาควิชาภูมิคุ้มกัน คณะแพทยศาสตร์ศิริราชพยาบาล มหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล พร้อมมองภาพใหญ่ โอกาสธุรกิจ อุตสาหกรรม และยุทธศาสตร์ที่ประเทศไทยต้องเร่งคว้าให้ทันในทศวรรษหน้า
เมื่อพูดถึง ‘ออร์แกนอยด์' หลายคนอาจนึกถึงภาพในหนังไซไฟเทคโนโลยีสร้างร่างใหม่ให้มนุษย์ แต่วันนี้สิ่งนั้นได้เกิดขึ้นจริงแล้ว นั่นคือออร์แกนอยด์อวัยวะจิ๋วในจานเพาะเลี้ยง ที่ทำงานใกล้เคียงของจริง ตั้งแต่คัดกรองยา ไปจนถึงสร้างตับอ่อนรักษาเบาหวานและการสร้างอวัยวะอื่นๆ Secret Science เอพิโสดนี้ชวนฟังเคสจริงจากนักวิจัยไทย ผศ. ดร. สมพลนาท สัมปัตตะวนิช กรรมการบริหารสถานวิทยามะเร็งศิริราช และอาจารย์ประจำภาควิชาเภสัชวิทยา คณะแพทยศาสตร์ศิริราชพยาบาล และดร.ปัณณ์ อักษรวรวัฒน์ อาจารย์ภาควิชาภูมิคุ้มกัน คณะแพทยศาสตร์ศิริราชพยาบาล มหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล พร้อมมองภาพใหญ่ โอกาสธุรกิจ อุตสาหกรรม และยุทธศาสตร์ที่ประเทศไทยต้องเร่งคว้าให้ทันในทศวรรษหน้า
An in vivo brain organoid platform reveals how human neurons and glia interact across development, aging, and disease. Fred H. Gage, Ph.D., generates three dimensional organoids from induced pluripotent stem cells and examines their maturation, synapses, and network activity with two-photon imaging and single-cell profiling. Gage integrates human microglia and astrocytes to study immune signaling, injury responses, and support functions that shape circuit behavior. Transplantation enables vascularization, reduces cell death, and yields features consistent with a blood brain barrier. Analyses identify diverse astrocyte types and trajectories, while patterns of tau expression inform Alzheimer's disease modeling. Gage also converts adult fibroblasts into age retaining neurons that assemble into 3D spheroids, creating complementary models to connect genes, cells, and circuits with pathology and to guide strategies for prevention and therapy. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 41160]
An in vivo brain organoid platform reveals how human neurons and glia interact across development, aging, and disease. Fred H. Gage, Ph.D., generates three dimensional organoids from induced pluripotent stem cells and examines their maturation, synapses, and network activity with two-photon imaging and single-cell profiling. Gage integrates human microglia and astrocytes to study immune signaling, injury responses, and support functions that shape circuit behavior. Transplantation enables vascularization, reduces cell death, and yields features consistent with a blood brain barrier. Analyses identify diverse astrocyte types and trajectories, while patterns of tau expression inform Alzheimer's disease modeling. Gage also converts adult fibroblasts into age retaining neurons that assemble into 3D spheroids, creating complementary models to connect genes, cells, and circuits with pathology and to guide strategies for prevention and therapy. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 41160]
An in vivo brain organoid platform reveals how human neurons and glia interact across development, aging, and disease. Fred H. Gage, Ph.D., generates three dimensional organoids from induced pluripotent stem cells and examines their maturation, synapses, and network activity with two-photon imaging and single-cell profiling. Gage integrates human microglia and astrocytes to study immune signaling, injury responses, and support functions that shape circuit behavior. Transplantation enables vascularization, reduces cell death, and yields features consistent with a blood brain barrier. Analyses identify diverse astrocyte types and trajectories, while patterns of tau expression inform Alzheimer's disease modeling. Gage also converts adult fibroblasts into age retaining neurons that assemble into 3D spheroids, creating complementary models to connect genes, cells, and circuits with pathology and to guide strategies for prevention and therapy. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 41160]
An in vivo brain organoid platform reveals how human neurons and glia interact across development, aging, and disease. Fred H. Gage, Ph.D., generates three dimensional organoids from induced pluripotent stem cells and examines their maturation, synapses, and network activity with two-photon imaging and single-cell profiling. Gage integrates human microglia and astrocytes to study immune signaling, injury responses, and support functions that shape circuit behavior. Transplantation enables vascularization, reduces cell death, and yields features consistent with a blood brain barrier. Analyses identify diverse astrocyte types and trajectories, while patterns of tau expression inform Alzheimer's disease modeling. Gage also converts adult fibroblasts into age retaining neurons that assemble into 3D spheroids, creating complementary models to connect genes, cells, and circuits with pathology and to guide strategies for prevention and therapy. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 41160]
An in vivo brain organoid platform reveals how human neurons and glia interact across development, aging, and disease. Fred H. Gage, Ph.D., generates three dimensional organoids from induced pluripotent stem cells and examines their maturation, synapses, and network activity with two-photon imaging and single-cell profiling. Gage integrates human microglia and astrocytes to study immune signaling, injury responses, and support functions that shape circuit behavior. Transplantation enables vascularization, reduces cell death, and yields features consistent with a blood brain barrier. Analyses identify diverse astrocyte types and trajectories, while patterns of tau expression inform Alzheimer's disease modeling. Gage also converts adult fibroblasts into age retaining neurons that assemble into 3D spheroids, creating complementary models to connect genes, cells, and circuits with pathology and to guide strategies for prevention and therapy. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 41160]
An in vivo brain organoid platform reveals how human neurons and glia interact across development, aging, and disease. Fred H. Gage, Ph.D., generates three dimensional organoids from induced pluripotent stem cells and examines their maturation, synapses, and network activity with two-photon imaging and single-cell profiling. Gage integrates human microglia and astrocytes to study immune signaling, injury responses, and support functions that shape circuit behavior. Transplantation enables vascularization, reduces cell death, and yields features consistent with a blood brain barrier. Analyses identify diverse astrocyte types and trajectories, while patterns of tau expression inform Alzheimer's disease modeling. Gage also converts adult fibroblasts into age retaining neurons that assemble into 3D spheroids, creating complementary models to connect genes, cells, and circuits with pathology and to guide strategies for prevention and therapy. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 41160]
In this episode of Once Upon a Gene, Effie sits down with Dr. Maya Gosztyla from Brainstorm Therapeutics to explore one of the most exciting frontiers in rare disease research - organoids. These “mini brains in a dish” are clusters of real human brain cells grown from a child's stem cells. They're giving researchers and families new ways to study disease, test drugs, and imagine personalized treatments. Effie and Maya talk about: What organoids are and why they matter for rare diseases How organoids could replace traditional mouse models, speeding research while reducing reliance on animal studies The potential for organoids to accelerate drug development and get treatments to clinical trials faster How these tiny models might unlock personalized medicine, tailored to each child's unique mutation Why this shift from “watching and waiting” to testing and acting could be transformative for families Maya brings not only her scientific brilliance but also her heart and connection to the rare disease mission. This conversation will expand your sense of what's possible for the future of research, treatment, and hope for our kids.
Dr. Alice Soragni is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. She talks about her work on patient-derived organoids and how they can be adapted for drug screening. She also discusses how she transitioned from structural biology to research on protein aggregation and rare diseases, and the current social media landscape for scientists.
Dr. Zhongwei Li is an Associate Professor at the University of Southern California. His lab focuses on kidney organogenesis with translational applications of kidney regeneration and disease modeling. He talks about his work on PSC-derived nephron progenitors and drug discovery applications for polycystic kidney disease.
My guest is Dr. Sergiu Pașca, MD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University. We discuss the biology and genetics of autism, why autism diagnoses are increasing and recent progress in using stem cells to understand and treat profound autism and other brain disorders. Dr. Pașca explains “organoids and assembloids”—human stem cell–derived tools he pioneered to study, treat and cure complex brain diseases. We also discuss ethical and safety issues with using gene editing and stem cells in humans. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman David: https://davidprotein.com/huberman Helix: https://helixsleep.com/huberman BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00) Sergiu Pașca (02:08) Autism Spectrum Disorder, Incidence, Genetics (07:16) Is Autism More Common in Males? (09:35) Sponsors: David & Helix Sleep (11:56) Eye Contact in Babies, Fever; Proposed Causes of Autism; Genes (18:48) Genetic or Idiopathic Autism Diagnoses, Timothy Syndrome (21:37) Rise in Autism Diagnoses (26:46) Cause, Correlation & Neurological Disease; Schizophrenia, Do Vaccines Cause Autism? (31:34) Global Increase in Autism; Gene Therapy, CRISPR, Follistatin (41:05) Sponsors: AG1 & BetterHelp (43:41) Stem Cells, Ethics, Yamanaka Factors, Human Stem Cell Models (52:03) Umbilical Stem Cells; Stem Cell Injections & Dangers, Autistic Kids (59:30) Organoids, Modeling Brain Development, Intrinsic Development Timer (1:12:22) Assembloids, Brain Cell Migration & Circuit Formation, Self-Organization (1:21:22) Four-Part Assembloid, Sensory Assembloid, Pain Conditions (1:25:45) Sponsor: Function (1:27:33) Future Medical Therapies, Cell Banking, Immortalize Tissues, Rejuvenate Cells (1:34:56) Assembloids & Ethics, Importance of Nomenclature, Science Collaboration & Self-Correction (1:45:38) Cell Transplantation & Ethics, Timing (1:55:05) Genetic Testing for Parents, Genetic Penetrance (2:02:36) Assembloids, Timothy Syndrome, Epilepsy, Schizophrenia, Dystonia (2:14:30) Scientific Career, Walking, Art, Medical School (2:20:44) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The role of neuronal influences on cancer pathogenesis and progression is increasingly appreciated in the nervous system. Neurons have been shown to enhance the proliferation and migration of gliomas, a glial-derived tumor of the CNS, via diffusible paracrine factors or synaptic inputs onto tumor cells. In glioblastomas, a highly aggressive glioma, mostly glutamatergic inputs have been identified. While the potential for glioblastomas to receive projections from neurons of other neurotransmitter subtypes, such as from cholinergic neurons, has recently been discovered in xenotransplantation models, whether synapses can form between human cholinergic neurons and glioblastoma cells and consequences of these inputs and other non-synaptic mechanisms are still unknown. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-based models have been emerging as a powerful platform for studying human-specific disease mechanisms. Today's guests developed a co-culture model for the study of neuron-tumor interactions by combining patient derived glioblastoma organoids and hiPSC-derived cholinergic neurons. They will discuss their recent findings and what it means for understanding and potentially treating a tumor for which there is no known cure. GuestsGuo-li Ming, MD, PhD, Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaHongjun Song, PhD, Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Yusha Sun, Neuroscience Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaHostJanet Rossant, Editor-in-Chief, Stem Cell Reports and The Gairdner FoundationSupporting ContentPaper link: Cholinergic neuron-to-glioblastoma synapses in a human iPSC-derived co-culture model, Stem Cell ReportsAbout Stem Cell ReportsStem Cell Reports is the open access, peer-reviewed journal of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) for communicating basic discoveries in stem cell research, in addition to translational and clinical studies. Stem Cell Reports focuses on original research with conceptual or practical advances that are of broad interest to stem cell biologists and clinicians.X: @StemCellReportsAbout ISSCRWith nearly 5,000 members from more than 80 countries, the International Society for Stem Cell Research (@ISSCR) is the preeminent global, cross-disciplinary, science-based organization dedicated to stem cell research and its translation to the clinic. The ISSCR mission is to promote excellence in stem cell science and applications to human health.ISSCR StaffKeith Alm, Chief Executive OfficerYvonne Fisher, Managing Editor, Stem Cell ReportsKym Kilbourne, Director of Media and Strategic CommunicationsMegan Koch, Senior Marketing ManagerJack Mosher, Scientific DirectorHunter Reed, Senior Marketing Coordinator
To follow up on the sordid and wildly disappointing ending to the previously released episode, We, your Humble Improvised Music Gods, release the hounds of the Brain Organoid episode, as promised by Lord Grahamuel Pazuzu. Praise Be! Praise Be! Hail the small petri dish Brain Organoid set to rule this reality!!!
Cory grew up in Maine and after spending time as a sea kayak guide and a ski instructor, found his way to biology and laboratory research. Currently a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Haller Lab at MDI Biological Laboratory, Cory is interested in the cell biology of kidney vascularization and uses renal organoids and zebrafish to investigate how we may, one day, be able to rebuild the kidney and develop non-donor solutions to kidney transplantation.Cory was one of the 5 Minute Genius™ speakers at this past year's Maine Science Festival; you can see his talk on our YouTube channel.This conversation was recorded in May 2025. ~~~~~The Maine Science Podcast is a production of the Maine Discovery Museum. It is recorded at Discovery Studios, at the Maine Discovery Museum, in Bangor, ME. The Maine Science Podcast is hosted and executive produced by Kate Dickerson; edited and produced by Scott Loiselle. The Discover Maine theme was composed and performed by Nick Parker. To support our work: https://www.mainediscoverymuseum.org/donate. Find us online:Maine Discovery MuseumMaine Discovery Museum on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Bluesky Maine Science Festival on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedInMaine Science Podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram © 2025 Maine Discovery Museum
In this episode, we discuss Autism with Dr. Catherine Lord. Dr. Lord is a Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Education at UCLA and one of the foremost researchers in Autism. Dr. Lord provides tremendous insights into her roles in Autism and Autism Assessment.Dr. Lord discusses her journey into Autism, the evolution of the Assessment including the ADOS growing from her basement and being overran by demand to the Gold Standard, the Challenges with understanding the Spectrum, updates on the Lancet Commission and Profound Autism, and Barriers in the Medical and Educational Systems.https://www.semel.ucla.edu/autism/team/catherine-lord-phdhttps://childmind.org/bio/catherine-lord-phd/https://labs.dgsom.ucla.edu/lord/pages/our_teamAutism and Education https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-the-spectrum-finding-superpowers-with-autism/id1737499562?i=1000656055638The mention of a recent article on Predicting Profound Autism and Cell Biology and me shying away from saying "Organoids" in real-time https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11127428/Daylight Computer Companyuse "autism" for $25 off athttps://buy.daylightcomputer.com/RYAN03139Chroma Iight Devicesuse "autism" for 10% discount athttps://getchroma.co/?ref=autism(0:00) Intro(3:22) Dr. Lord's journey into Autism and Recognizing a Spectrum(11:25) The Evolution of Autism Assessment and Discussion on the ADI and ADOS- from making the ADOS in her Basement and being Overran by Demand to the Gold Standard; Revisions of Assessment Instruments(16:36) Gaps in the Autism Assessment(23:15) The Challenges with Understanding the Spectrum of Autism(29:32) Updates on the Lancet Commission and Profound Autism(35:19) Barriers with Autism and the Medical Field(39:29) Barriers with Autism and Education- Four Strikes against the Autistic Phenotype: Sensory-Processing, Speech and Language, Social Communication/Interaction, and Subject Switching (understand B3: Fixated Interests)(44:25) The Future of Autism and Helping Autistics Across the Life Span(51:03) Reviews/Ratings and Contact InfoX: https://x.com/rps47586YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGxEzLKXkjppo3nqmpXpzuAemail: info.fromthespectrum@gmail.com
Dean Buonomano runs the Buonomano lab at UCLA. Dean was a guest on Brain Inspired way back on episode 18, where we talked about his book Your Brain is a Time Machine: The Neuroscience and Physics of Time, which details much of his thought and research about how centrally important time is for virtually everything we do, different conceptions of time in philosophy, and how how brains might tell time. That was almost 7 years ago, and his work on time and dynamics in computational neuroscience continues. One thing we discuss today, later in the episode, is his recent work using organotypic brain slices to test the idea that cortical circuits implement timing as a computational primitive it's something they do by they're very nature. Organotypic brain slices are between what I think of as traditional brain slices and full on organoids. Brain slices are extracted from an organism, and maintained in a brain-like fluid while you perform experiments on them. Organoids start with a small amount of cells that you the culture, and let them divide and grow and specialize, until you have a mass of cells that have grown into an organ of some sort, to then perform experiments on. Organotypic brain slices are extracted from an organism, like brain slices, but then also cultured for some time to let them settle back into some sort of near-homeostatic point - to them as close as you can to what they're like in the intact brain... then perform experiments on them. Dean and his colleagues use optigenetics to train their brain slices to predict the timing of the stimuli, and they find the populations of neurons do indeed learn to predict the timing of the stimuli, and that they exhibit replaying of those sequences similar to the replay seen in brain areas like the hippocampus. But, we begin our conversation talking about Dean's recent piece in The Transmitter, that I'll point to in the show notes, called The brain holds no exclusive rights on how to create intelligence. There he argues that modern AI is likely to continue its recent successes despite the ongoing divergence between AI and neuroscience. This is in contrast to what folks in NeuroAI believe. We then talk about his recent chapter with physicist Carlo Rovelli, titled Bridging the neuroscience and physics of time, in which Dean and Carlo examine where neuroscience and physics disagree and where they agree about the nature of time. Finally, we discuss Dean's thoughts on the integrated information theory of consciousness, or IIT. IIT has see a little controversy lately. Over 100 scientists, a large part of that group calling themselves IIT-Concerned, have expressed concern that IIT is actually unscientific. This has cause backlash and anti-backlash, and all sorts of fun expression from many interested people. Dean explains his own views about why he thinks IIT is not in the purview of science - namely that it doesn't play well with the existing ontology of what physics says about science. What I just said doesn't do justice to his arguments, which he articulates much better. Buonomano lab. Related papers The brain holds no exclusive rights on how to create intelligence. What makes a theory of consciousness unscientific? Ex vivo cortical circuits learn to predict and spontaneously replay temporal patterns. Bridging the neuroscience and physics of time. 0:00 - Intro 8:49 - AI doesn't need biology 17:52 - Time in physics and in neuroscience 34:04 - Integrated information theory 1:01:34 - Global neuronal workspace theory 1:07:46 - Organotypic slices and predictive processing 1:26:07 - Do brains actually measure time? David Robbe
In this episode, my guest is Dr. Victor Carrión, M.D., the Vice-Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford School of Medicine and a world expert on the understanding and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children, adolescents, and adults. We explain why, as children, we are particularly vulnerable to PTSD and how stress and trauma affect the developing brain. We also discuss how PTSD is related to attention-deficient hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and vice versa. Dr. Carrión shares effective therapeutic interventions for PTSD, including cue-centered therapy (CCT) and how to create a custom “toolbox” to help you identify triggers and manage stress. We discuss an emerging curriculum that combines yoga and mindfulness to help people with PTSD improve their stress resilience, mood, and sleep. The episode will provide listeners of all ages with a clear understanding of PTSD and effective strategies to heal from it. Access the full show notes for this episode at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Timestamps 00:00:00 Dr. Victor Carrión 00:01:56 Sponsors: Eight Sleep, BetterHelp & Waking Up 00:06:19 Stress, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Avoidance 00:11:41 Stressors, Perseverate; Children & PTSD 00:16:13 Transgenerational Trauma 00:19:20 Post-Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI); Children, Dissociation & Cortisol 00:27:17 Cortisol & Brain, Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms 00:31:48 Sponsor: AG1 00:33:19 PTSD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) 00:40:17 PTSD & ADHD; Identifying Cues, Triggers & Interventions 00:47:49 PTSI, Autonomic Nervous System Seesaw; Sleep 00:53:11 PTSD, Brain Development & Kids; Cue-Centered Therapy 01:02:37 Sponsor: Function 01:04:25 Limbic Pathway, Inner Dialogue, Therapy Toolbox 01:12:34 Agency & Control, Deliberate Cold Exposure, Narrative 01:18:11 Custom Toolbox Development; Energy 01:26:32 Tool: 4-Corner Square Response, Understanding Cues 01:32:59 Tool: “Creating Space,” Feelings Thermometer, Analyzing 4-Corners 01:38:47 Social Media, Boundaries 01:46:07 School, Yoga & Mindfulness Curriculum 01:55:31 Implementing School Mindfulness Programs, Sleep 02:00:52 Barriers to School Programs 02:06:08 Redefining Success, Identity 02:10:33 Resilience & Adaptation; Organoids, Epigenetic Treatment Response 02:21:42 Listening to Kids & Adults 02:24:19 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer & Disclosures