Researchers at the Institute of Molecular Biology in Austria were the first to create’ mini brains’¹ in 2013.  Since then several labs have been working at perfecting the technique.

Now, scientists from Johns Hopkins University in the USA have created ‘mini brains’ that they say contain most of the specialised cells found in the adult human brain, along with some of the key functions².

These fascinating structures were grown from human skin cells, which were genetically engineered to become stem cells. These cells were then encouraged to develop into brain cells and coaxed to form 3D ‘organoids’.  These are about the size of a pea and thought to be equivalent in development to the brain of a two-month old human foetus.

This innovative technique has already been used to model a condition called microcephaly (when the brain does not develop properly and is smaller than normal).³ Researchers hope that it will also prove useful in studies of more common conditions such as autism, schizophrenia and drug addiction.

As well as replacing animals in neurological research, scientists hope that the ‘mini brains’ will also provide a more reliable and human-relevant way to test potential drugs that could affect the brain.

As well as growing brains, researchers from all around the world are also working on producing miniature versions of kidneys, hearts and livers that can be used to replace animals. This exciting development could have a significant impact on countless animals who continue to suffer and die in cruel, speculative research and drug tests.

According to Dr. Thomas Hartung, director of the John Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing, “No one should have the excuse to still use animal models, which come with tremendous disadvantages for brain studies in particular”.⁴