Vascularising human mini-brains in a dish

Blood vessels play crucial roles in brain development, supplying nutrients and signals critical for tissue formation and function. However, current experimental models of human brain development lack blood vessels. Our aim is to address this gap and establish vascularised mini-brains in a dish. The current PhD project aims to vascularize brain organoids and examine the role of blood vessels in neurogenesis, both in health and in Down syndrome, where abnormal vascularization has been documented, but the impact of vascular defects on brain development and function remains poorly understood. The supervisory team are leaders in both neuronal and vascular translational biology and possesses the necessary expertise for the project. Alexandre’s lab studies human hindbrain development and has developed brain organoids from healthy and Down Syndrome patients. The Long’s lab has generated vascular organoids from stem cells alongside imaging technologies to characterise patterns of vascularisation. The successful vascularisation of brain organoids holds broader implications, enabling precise modelling of human developmental brain disorders and facilitate testing of novel therapies for diseases like brain degenerative disorders and paediatric brain tumours.