Madeleine Lancaster and growing a brain

[nunhead_man]

I am interested in an article in this week's version of the Economist (August 31 of September 6, 2019) that discusses growing "cerebral organoids"

This is a stem cell process where the cells are "coaxed" into becoming nervous tissue that organises itself, albeit somewhat crudely into structures which have some of the cell types and anatomical features of embryonic human brains.

I wonder if we know about this and if growing such brains offers an opportunity for research into MND?

And if it has has this proceeded?

The scientists involved are Madeleine Lancaster at the medical research Council's laboratory of molecular biology in Cambridge and the article also mentions Allysson Muotri of University of California, San Diego, and the publication this week in "Cell Stem Cell" ?

Warmly

[Ellie]

I'd say you'd get shorter odds on NurOwn by Brainstorm...

Watch the video on their website (scroll down): https://brainstorm-cell.com/

Love Ellie.

[nunhead_man]

Hi Ellie

I'd say you'd get shorter odds on NurOwn by Brainstorm

Yes, I had known that NurOwn was in phase 3 trials, but wondered if what I described was a different approach that might produce results.

Do we have any idea if the NurOwn trial is going well?

[Ellie]

Yeah, sorry, I meant it in a "don't hold your breath" type of remark...

It's certainly possible I think, but probable?? That will be long past my sell by date, given the likely ethical debate??

CRISPR seems to have gone off the boil?? Or at least I've not read any recent papers on it.

Participants in any clinical trial are prohibited from revealing any details about the trial, so we've to wait for trial results to be published. Hopefully it will go as well as the earlier phases!

Love Ellie.