US scientists breed human brain in the laboratory

Pea-sized brain is said to help with disease and drug research
Ohio State University researchers bred a pea-sized, almost complete human brain in the lab. It will serve the study of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and testing new drugs. According to senior researcher Prof. Rene Anand, the organ has the maturity of a five-week-old embryonic brain.

Brain from the laboratory should facilitate the exploration of new therapies. (Image: Sergey Nivens / fotolia.com)

Human brain from the laboratory for the research of therapies against neurological diseases
"It does not just look like the developing brain," Anand is quoted in a statement from the university. It contains apart from blood vessels also all cell types and genes of the human brain. In addition, the important brain regions are formed. Its size corresponds approximately to that of a pea.

"We've spent a long time trying to solve complex brain disease problems that cause tremendous pain and suffering. The strength of this brain model bodes well for human health because it gives us better and more relevant options for testing and developing therapeutics, "said Anand. It could make a significant contribution to this through studies on Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and autism.

The cultured brain was first introduced on Tuesday as part of the Military Health System Research Symposium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Ag)