# Genetically diverse mouse cerebellar organoids for in vitro neurotoxicology

> **NIH NIH R43** · PREDICTIVE BIOLOGY · 2020 · $252,100

## Abstract

Abstract.
Cerebellar ataxias, or movement disorders arising from loss of muscle control, have many
causes. Inherited conditions include spinocerebellar ataxia, ataxia-telangiectasia and Friedrich’s
ataxia. They are also caused by chemicals in the environment including drugs, industrial
compounds and metals. The most common cause of ataxia is alcohol consumption. There is
also abundant evidence of cerebellar involvement in non-motor disorders such as autism and
depression. The overall aim of this project is to develop a population model of cerebellar
organoids for testing of potential neurotoxicants. In Phase I we will merge and adapt published
protocols for mouse cerebellar neurospheres, NPC differentiation to granule neurons, and
assembly of self organizing human cerebellar organoids to establish a robust and scalable
method for producing mouse cerebellar organoids. We will characterize the organoids by
immunological staining as well as by scRNAseq at different stages of organoid differentiation,
and we will test biological replicates to estimate batch effects that can confound assessment of
genetic contribution to response. We will assign the single cell clusters to cerebellar cell types
and demonstrate authentic cell identity using reference transcriptome atlases. Finally, we will
test the organoids with ethanol as a model cerebellar toxicant. From these Phase I experiments
we will determine the parameters of a larger screen in Phase II comprised of 24 to 48 cell lines
and 12 toxicants.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10079772
- **Project number:** 1R43ES032362-01
- **Recipient organization:** PREDICTIVE BIOLOGY
- **Principal Investigator:** Ted Choi
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $252,100
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-08-20 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10079772

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10079772, Genetically diverse mouse cerebellar organoids for in vitro neurotoxicology (1R43ES032362-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10079772. Licensed CC0.

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