Organoid Platform Aids in Stroke Drug Screening

Scientists have developed an advanced multi-omics platform using brain organoids, which offers significant potential for screening stroke medications. These miniature brain models, created by reprogramming patient-derived cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and then differentiating them into various brain cell types, can accurately simulate the neurological conditions of stroke patients in a laboratory setting. In addition to stroke research, these brain organoids are also invaluable for studying other infection-induced neurological disorders, such as those caused by viral or bacterial toxins. By simulating the infection process and disease progression in these organoids, researchers can gain deeper insights into the mechanisms of these diseases and the ways in which they affect the brain. The key advantage of using brain organoids in drug research is their high-throughput capability. Unlike traditional methods that require difficult-to-obtain human brain tissue, organoids allow for extensive preclinical testing without such limitations. They can be used to model various disease conditions and evaluate drug responses, providing crucial experimental data for the development of new treatments. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory's Professor Cold Spring Zhu highlighted the benefits of combining brain organoids with multi-omics technologies to study the impact of drugs on the nervous system. While current stroke treatments are widely used, their mechanisms of action are not fully understood. Brain organoids can offer a platform to analyze how specific genes and cellular pathways interact with therapeutic agents, thereby providing a more solid scientific foundation for clinical applications. The next phase of this research will focus on elucidating the interactive mechanisms between the peripheral nerve and the brain during disease development. This will help researchers understand how these interactions influence the function of the nervous system and the progression of diseases like stroke. "We aim to bridge the gap between basic research and clinical application by translating scientific questions into practical solutions," Professor Cold Spring Zhu said. "As technology continues to advance, we hope to expand the applicability of brain organoids and enhance their effectiveness in multiple research fields." Reference: 1. Zhu, W. et al. A stroke organoids-multiomics platform to study injury mechanism and drug response. Bioactive Materials 44, 2025, 68-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.09.038 Editor: He Longwei