Automated Electrographic Analysis of Cerebral Organoids for Characterization of Pharmacological Intervention

Through our previous work, we’ve been able to take blood samples from patients with genetic epilepsy and make 3D miniature brains (organoids) from their own cells. These organoids then retain that patient’s genetic predisposition to epilepsy, which we can then study in a lab to find the best drug that could be recommended to the patient. This project will help refine the set of electrical properties of the organoids that can be used to make such a prediction. One method that doctors currently use to choose which drugs to give to an epileptic patient is to examine the electrical activity of an epileptic brain for the kinds of rhythms that are present and to test different anticonvulsants over time to find one that works. Our project aims to measure the electrical activity of organoids for the same kinds of rhythms that might be present in an epileptic brain.

Intern: 
Mark Aquilino
Faculty Supervisor: 
Aziz Guergachi
Province: 
Ontario
Discipline: