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09 Oct | 2024

We develop brain organoids from stem cells to explore the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s

The Barcelonaßeta Brain Research Center (BBRC), research center of the Pasqual Maragall Foundation, is creating brain organoids, also known as "minibrains", from stem cells that allow to simulate the development of Alzheimer's disease and explore in detail the factors that contribute to its occurrence and progression.

These in vitro models mimic the function of a real brain, they are three-dimensional cell cultures with a structure similar to that of the human brain that are very useful for understanding complex diseases. According to Dr. Laura García González, postdoctoral researcher in the Genomics Research Group of the BBRC and leader of the project, "brain organoids represent a crucial tool for the study of complex human diseases such as Alzheimer's. They are a very powerful predictive tool that contributes to analyze the different genetic factors in the development of the disease”.

This project, started in 2022, makes it possible to generate stem cells from specialized cells obtained from blood samples of participants in BBRC studies. Through a process of 'cellular reprogramming', the identity of the extracted cells is removed to revert them to stem cells. From here, the organoids are generated, with which the development of Alzheimer's can be explored exhaustively without the need to resort to animal experimentation. "Thanks to the use of brain organoids, we will be able to study the molecular and cellular mechanisms of the early stages of Alzheimer's, getting closer and closer to preventing, slowing down or even stopping the progress of the disease", concludes Dr. Laura Garcia.

 

New lines of research from brain organoids

In addition to creating these miniature brains to better understand Alzheimer's disease, this project also includes the creation of a stem cell bank that will serve as a screening platform for new drug treatments, an essential step in the search for effective therapies.

Thanks to this study, new lines of research have opened up, such as the study of the impact of COVID-19 on the brains of people with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's. The project explores the associations between the SARS-CoV-2 virus and neurodegeneration, with the aim of discovering how the infection affects different genetic contexts.

 

'Mini brains to think big’

To contribute to this research center study, the Pasqual Maragall Foundation is launching a campaign that, until the month of December, aims to raise €250,000 to support this project that helps to further understand Alzheimer's disease. The campaign is signed by the digital agencies ES3 and BUM and the production company Bloodymary Films.

More information on the website: www.minicerebrosparapensarengrande.org