Neurodevelopmental disorders are a large group of conditions resulting from insults during critical periods of brain development. Currently, there is no cure for most neurodevelopmental disorders and the only treatments available for children are directed at alleviating their symptoms.
Impact
We are using in vitro stem cell-derived models of the developing human brain, called brain organoids, to understand how our brain is built and how alterations during this process cause neurodevelopmental disorders.
reNEW research
We have developed a 3D organoid model that closely mimic the fetal human brain. By using this organoid model and experimental approaches that allow analysis of single cells we aim to identify disease mechanisms and develop novel and effective therapies for neurodevelopmental disorders.
Image description
Newborn neurons (green) produced from neural progenitors (purple) within a stem cell organoid modeling the developing human brain.
Credits
Maria Nucera is analyzing brain organoids using computational methods. Image credit: Dr Maria Giovanna Garone
Neural Stem Cells Group (Velasco Lab) (MCRI), reNEW Melbourne.