Advanced Organoid Technologies for Mental Health Research

As live human brain tissue is inaccessible, most studies of this organ have been restricted to the analysis of post mortem tissues or animal models, which bear a limited resemblance to the complexity of living human physiology. Organoids are emerging as novel technologies that allow to recapitulate the structure and function of various human organs in vitro, including the human brain. These tools have the potential to revolutionize the future of biomedical research. This group, headed by Rudolf Mößbauer Tenure Track Professor Simon Schäfer, focuses on advancing these technologies to push the boundaries for personalized research on human brain disorders and to identify therapeutic strategies for facilitating brain repair. The lab is currently located at TranslaTUM and will also be part of the newly founded TUM Center for Organoid Systems and Tissue Engineering (COS).