Stem cell researcher pushes the boundaries of neuroscience

In an interview published in Brain Medicine, Dr. Alysson Muotri—Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the UC San Diego School of Medicine and director of the Sanford Stem Cell Institute’s Sanford Integrated Space Stem Cell Orbital Research Center—reveals the fascinating journey that led him to become a pioneer in human brain organoid research.

The interview is titled “Alysson Muotri: Modeling the human brain with stem cells and organoids, from disease paradigms to neanderthoids, space brains, and beyond.”

From his childhood fascination with fireflies to his current role as a leader in stem cell and neuroscience research, Dr. Muotri’s story is one of curiosity, innovation, and perseverance.

Dr. Muotri’s work focuses on creating human brain organoids—miniature, lab-grown, brain-like structures—to study neurological development and diseases. This groundbreaking approach challenges traditional mouse-based models and offers unprecedented insight into human brain function.

“When I moved from Brazil to the United States to train as a neuroscientist, I was shocked to discover that most of our ‘knowledge’ about the human brain came from another species: the mouse,” Dr. Muotri shares in the interview.

“This struck me as pretty strange. After all, it was not the mouse brain that put us on the moon or decoded the human genome.”

This realization led Dr. Muotri to develop human brain organoids using pluripotent stem cells, a decision that has positioned him at the forefront of neuroscience research. But how might this innovative approach transform our understanding of complex neurological disorders like autism and Alzheimer’s disease? Dr. Muotri’s work suggests that these organoids could provide more accurate models for studying human-specific brain conditions.

Beyond neurological disorders, Dr. Muotri’s research extends into unexpected territories. His team is exploring the effects of space environments on brain cells, with potential implications for long-term space travel and colonization.

“We know that the nervous system has not evolved to cope with the very harsh environment of outer space,” Dr. Muotri explains. This research raises intriguing questions about the adaptability of the human brain in extreme conditions. Could insights from these studies lead to breakthroughs in protecting astronauts’ cognitive functions during extended space missions?

Perhaps most fascinatingly, Dr. Muotri’s lab is using brain organoids to study human evolution. By introducing Neanderthal genetic variants into human stem cells, they are creating “neanderthoids”—brain organoids with Neanderthal-like characteristics.

This innovative approach is unveiling evolutionary steps that were previously impossible to discover through fossil records alone. What might these “neanderthoids” reveal about the cognitive differences between Homo sapiens and our extinct relatives?

Dr. Muotri’s work also intersects with artificial intelligence. By studying the development of neural networks in brain organoids, his team is proposing new algorithms for more human-like AI. This organic approach to AI development could potentially lead to more efficient and energy-conservative computational systems. Could this bio-inspired AI represent the next leap forward in machine learning and cognitive computing?

Throughout the interview, Dr. Muotri emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary research and unconventional thinking. “The most important value is being honest with the data and being persistent,” he states. “Most of my essential discoveries came from unexpected data that actually contradicted my initial hypothesis.”

This interview not only highlights Dr. Muotri’s scientific achievements but also provides a glimpse into his personal philosophy and motivations. His commitment to diversity in science, including efforts to create pathways for neurodiverse individuals in academia, showcases a holistic approach to advancing scientific discovery.

Provided by
Genomic Press