Tiny Human Brain Spheres To Be Cultivated on the International Space Station to Model Diseases, Test Drugs

Tiny spherical simplified versions of the human brain will be sent to the International Space Station (ISS), grown from adult human skin cells.

As per Live Science's report, the resulting cells are called "induced pluripotent stem cells" that can transform into any type of cell in the body with the help of chemical cues, making them valuable for studying brain development and diseases in space.

3D Self-Assembling Human Brain Model

According to a news release by the US government-funded national laboratory ISS National Lab, the research team from Axonis, a biotechnology startup, plans to study how microgravity affects human brain cell maturation by growing three-dimensional spheroids that imitate certain aspects of the brain.

Funded through the Technology in Space Prize by Boeing and the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, the investigation will convert induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into various brain cell types, which will form spheroids on the International Space Station (ISS).

These spheroids serve as brain models for disease research and drug testing, offering a more efficient and mature alternative to traditional brain organoids.

According to Shane Hegarty, Axonis' chief scientific officer, the self-assembled spheroids are revolutionary for brain research. Unlike organoids, which often suffer from incomplete maturation and slow growth, the 3D self-assembly approach streamlines the process and enables greater maturity.

The spheroids, made from a patient's own skin cells, provide personalized models for tailoring treatment strategies to individual patients' requirements.

By studying how microgravity impacts the formation and development of these brain spheroids, the research team aims to advance disease modeling and potentially discover new therapies for neurological disorders back on Earth.

The project launches on Northrop Grumman's 19th Commercial Resupply Services mission to the ISS and holds promise for improving our understanding of the human brain and its complexities.

Why Study Spheroids in Space

Hegarty highlighted the FDA's preference for human data over animal data, indicating a potential increase in approvals based on non-animal disease modeling. Live Science previously reported that FDA's recent decision to no longer mandate animal testing for new drug approvals paves the way for alternatives like spheroids and organoids, which are advanced options for drug testing.

The upcoming experiment will utilize engineered human tissue, the spheroids, to evaluate how well they grow under the microgravity conditions of the ISS. The team will also test a gene therapy designed specifically for neurons, assessing its precision in delivering its payload solely to neurons.

The stem cells, intended to create the 3D brain models, will be transported on NASA's 19th Northrop Grumman commercial resupply services mission, scheduled to launch from Virginia's Wallops Flight Facility on August 1 at 8:31 p.m. EDT.

Alongside this experiment, the mission will carry out other studies, such as fire suppression in space, atmospheric monitoring, and digital artworks created by students.

Check out more news and information on Organoids in Science Times.