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Lab-grown Neurons
05 June 2018

Lab-grown Neurons

Few new therapies for neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s or schizophrenia make it past developmental phases. Many times, what works in an animal model doesn’t quite translate to humans. To avoid relying so heavily on animal testing, scientists can take skin cells from a patient and make their own lab-grown human neurons. These brain organoids that started life as single human skin cells can be used to mimic a disease’s key characteristics. Scientists have recently taken this approach one step further by grafting these lab-grown neurons (in green) onto mouse brain tissue (in red). By allowing the neurons to receive the nutrients they need directly from living tissue, scientists can better mimic real-world conditions for these brain organoids. Ultimately, this grafting technique will allow scientists to create better tests for potential new therapies, so that more new treatments for diseases like Alzheimer’s or schizophrenia can make it out of the lab.

Written by Gaëlle Coullon

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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