Imagine growing tiny, simplified versions of different brain regions in a lab and connecting them with microscopic bridges. Scientists can then use light to flip switches in these cells and watch how signals travel between regions in real-time. It is like building a living circuit board of the human brain to see why things go wrong in diseases like Parkinson's.
Drug development for Parkinson's often fails because animal models do not translate to humans. Additionally, the economic burden of dementia in Europe is massive, costing €798 billion annually.
A human opto-electronic multi-regional brain-organoid model (connectoids) featuring light-controllable neurons and 3D-printed waveguides for real-time signaling monitoring.
If you are a drug discovery firm dealing with high failure rates in animal trials—this project developed connectoids that mimic human brain regions. This allows you to test how drug candidates affect specific brain areas and their connections without relying on animal models.
If you are a bioprinting company dealing with the lack of complex, functional tissue models—this project developed embedded 3D printing techniques for realistic brain organoids. This provides a blueprint for creating high-value, interconnected biological models for research.
If you are a diagnostic tool developer dealing with the inability to monitor real-time neurotransmitter signaling—this project developed 3D biosensors and waveguides. This technology enables the sensing of how brain regions respond to therapies in real-time.
Based on available project data, there is no specific pricing or cost information provided for the resulting technology.
The project focuses on developing 3D printing and bioprinting techniques to create these models, but based on available project data, industrial scale-up metrics are not yet specified.
Based on available project data, specific IP or licensing terms are not listed; however, the project is funded under the HORIZON-EIC scheme.
It replaces or supplements animal models by providing a human-derived, ex-vivo system that monitors neurotransmitter signaling and regional responses to therapy.
The project period runs from 2022-11-01 to 2026-04-30, suggesting the technology is currently in the development and testing phase.
The consortium consists of 5 partners across 3 countries (DK, ES, SE). It shows a balanced mix of academic and commercial interests with a 40% industry ratio (2 industry partners, including 1 SME, and 3 universities), indicating a strong push to translate laboratory research into applicable business tools.
Contact the research office at Danmarks Tekniske Universitet
Contact us to bridge the gap between this brain-on-a-chip prototype and your drug screening pipeline.
