# E-Organoids: Functional Brain Organoids Co-grafted with Transparent Microthreads

> **NIH NIH DP2** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2020 · $2,368,875

## Abstract

Recent advances in pluripotent stem cell technology have enabled generation of cerebral
organoids from induced pluripotent stem cells derived from human peripheral tissues. Cerebral
organoids are formed by self-assembled, 3D aggregates generated from stem cells with different
cell types and layers mimic the embryonic human brain. Cerebral organoids open up
unprecedented opportunities for studying brain development, investigation of neuronal network
dysfunctions underlying human brain diseases, and providing an experimental system for drug
testing and discovery. In vivo transplantation of cerebral organoids offers a transformative
approach for future applications of transplantable regenerative medicine. Although tremendous
breakthroughs have been made in organoid research in the recent years, two key challenges
fundamentally limit their utility and further development towards a complete model system for
investigation of human brain development and disorders. The first challenge is lack of a chronic
functional interface for precise monitoring cellular and network-level activity of the organoids
with high precision and the second challenge is lack of the natural brain microenvironment and
vasculature impeding maturation of neurons and causing cell death at the organoid core.
 This project will overcome these challenges by creating E-Organoids with a seamless
functional interface that will monitor activity of individual neurons and cell populations as well as
supply oxygen and nutrients for healthy maturation, in vitro and in vivo. The proposed E-
Organoids will create a complete platform combining in vivo electrophysiology and 2-photon
microscopy for robust and quantitative in vivo functional evaluation of neuronal activity of human
cortical organoids at the cellular and network level. In the future, this technology could allow
systematic investigation of effects of new drugs on development and organization of human
neuronal networks during development.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10002957
- **Project number:** 1DP2EB030992-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Duygu Kuzum
- **Activity code:** DP2 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $2,368,875
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-30 → 2025-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10002957

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10002957, E-Organoids: Functional Brain Organoids Co-grafted with Transparent Microthreads (1DP2EB030992-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10002957. Licensed CC0.

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