Project

IMAGIBRAINDD: IMAGIng-assisted human BRAIn organoid engineering for studying and treating NeuroDevelopmental Disorders

Code
BOF/IOP/2022/058
Duration
01 October 2022 → 30 September 2026
Funding
Regional and community funding: Special Research Fund
Promotor-spokesperson
Research disciplines
  • Natural sciences
    • Animal developmental and reproductive biology
    • Analytical biochemistry
    • Nucleic acids
    • Analysis of next-generation sequence data
    • Data visualisation and high-throughput image analysis
    • Single-cell data analysis
    • Developmental genetics
    • Epigenetics
    • Genetic predisposition
    • Cell growth and development
  • Medical and health sciences
    • Analysis of next-generation sequence data
    • Single-cell data analysis
    • Molecular diagnostics
    • Epigenetics
    • Genetics
    • Developmental neuroscience
    • Clinical genetics and molecular diagnostics
  • Engineering and technology
    • Biochemical engineering
    • Organ engineering
Keywords
Multi-omics Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) Organoids Brain Hypoxia Neurodevelopmental disorders Metabolic imaging iPSC Metabolism
 
Project description

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) affect 2-5% children worldwide. Here we propose an innovative pipeline to study NDDs using human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived brain organoids with dedicated high-resolution multi-parameter live microscopy imaging. Using genetic manipulation of FOXG1 syndrome iPSCs, we will produce 3D brain ‘organoids’, providing us with important information on disease development at early stages. These organoids will be subjected to state-of-the-art analysis with chemical and nanosensors measuring live tissue oxygenation, cell metabolism, proliferation and Ca2+ dynamics in a non-destructive way, compatible with downstream scRNA-seq, electrode-based and other analyses. Our project will help to unravel the etiology of FOXG1 syndrome and will lead to a better understanding of human brain development. Moreover, this project will pave the way for future interdisciplinary projects on tissue engineering and therapy development for NDDs.