Construction of functional cultured neural circuitry

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K20643
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Pioneering)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 90:Biomedical engineering and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: IKEUCHi Yoshiho 東京大学, 生産技術研究所, 准教授 (30740097)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): ティクシェ三田 アニエス 東京大学, 生産技術研究所, 准教授 (00334368)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 神経 / オルガノイド / 組織工学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research aimed to simplify the complexity of neural circuits in the brain and recreate them outside the body to understand their functions and mechanisms. Specifically, it sought to create functional "cultured human brain circuit tissues" by connecting multiple brain region-mimicking organoids. Organoids mimicking the cerebrum, midbrain, thalamus, basal ganglia, and spinal cord were produced and connected to form circuit tissues. Transmission rules of action potentials and changes in response to stimulation were observed, and culturing methods were established along with the development of unique techniques. In pattern recognition tasks, slight improvements in performance were noted, yielding significant insights for future research. Moving forward, the aim is to achieve a more advanced recreation of neural circuits and learning functions, with applications for developing models and treatments for neurological diseases.

Free Research Field

培養神経工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の学術的意義は、ヒトの脳内神経回路を体外で再現し、その機能と学習メカニズムを理解する新たな方法を確立した点にある。神経回路の複雑な動態を解明するための基礎的手法を開拓し、新たな研究分野を切り開くものである。また、神経オルガノイドに計算処理をさせることが世界的に期待され始めているため、先行して知見を得られたことは意義深い。得られた知見を基に神経疾患のモデル構築や新たな治療法の開発が期待される。特に、脳の可塑性や学習機能の理解が進むことで、認知症や精神疾患などの治療に革新をもたらす可能性がある。さらに、人工知能やロボティクス分野への応用も見込まれ、幅広い社会的貢献が期待される。