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🧠 Tiny “Whole Brain” Built!

Daily news that is actually intellectually stimulating.

Author

Anthony Ao
August 16, 2025

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Whole‑brain organoid grown with connected regions and neural activity

Johns Hopkins researchers report a “multi‑region brain organoid” (MRBO) that brings together tissues from across the brain into a single mini‑brain that connects and fires as a network—among the first demonstrations of a whole‑brain organoid. The team assembled region‑specific neural tissues and rudimentary vascular cells using sticky proteins as a “biological superglue”; the fused tissues formed connections, produced electrical activity, and showed early blood–brain barrier features. The MRBO retained a broad mix of neuronal cell types resembling a ~40‑day human fetal brain, containing about 6–7 million neurons with ~80% of early developmental cell types represented. The work, published in Advanced Science and announced July 25, 2025, is positioned to help study disorders that affect the whole brain, including schizophrenia, autism, and Alzheimer’s

Why it matters

Human‑cell models that capture whole‑brain interactions could reduce reliance on animal models and enable earlier, more predictive drug testing—important in a field where most candidates fail in clinical trials, especially neuropsychiatric drugs.

ELI5 Summary

Scientists at Johns Hopkins grew a tiny ball of human brain cells that includes pieces from all the brain’s main areas—and those pieces talk to each other. They first grew the parts separately (plus early blood‑vessel cells), then used “sticky” proteins to join them. Once fused, the parts formed connections and sent electrical signals like a simple network. The mini‑brain also showed an early version of the brain’s protective barrier. It’s still very small—about 6–7 million neurons, closer to a ~40‑day fetal brain—but it packs many early cell types and is among the first to link all regions at once.

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Stay curious,
Anthony Ao
The PhDLevel Team
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