Lab grown mini-brains encompass a large collection of in vitro stem cell-derived three-dimensional culture systems that aim to recapitulate multiple aspects of in vivo brain development and function. Our laboratory focusses on the functional characterisation of murine and human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived mini-brains in terms of immune competence and electrophysiological activity. The first part of the lecture will discuss our recent developments in the application of transcriptome-proteome integration analysis to study and modulate detrimental immune responses in microglia-containing murine iPSC-derived mini-brains. The second part of the lecture will discuss the influence of a stroke-like event and a viral infection on electrophysiological network activity in human iPSC-derived mini-brains. Providing these examples of ongoing research, we wish to contribute to a new research era using functionally competent human lab-grown mini-brains.
Dose assessment: from conceptual model to environmental radioactivity monitoring
Radionuclides are discharged into the environment from a variety of nuclear and radiation facilities, potentially causing harmful effects on human health and the environment. If discharges are likely to result in adverse radiological effects, they must be evaluated in...