Use of cerebral organoids to model environmental and gene x environment interactions in the developing fetus and neurodegenerative disorders

The developing fetus, while generally safe from the outside world, is often exposed to any one of a number of toxins, drugs, infectious microbes, and maternal antibodies and cytokines that adversely affect the developing brain. This can have life-long consequences on cognitive function and behavior. Cerebral organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are used as a model system to study the first trimester brain, providing researchers with an opportunity to identify underlying molecular pathways that are disrupted by potentially dangerous environmental exposures. In addition, using patient-specific iPSCs allows researchers to study gene x environment interactions. Such studies could lead to the development of novel therapies for at-risk fetuses.