STRATEGY 2Human Midbrain-Like Organoids (hMLOs)
Our human midbrain-like organoids (hMLOs), developed in collaboration with A*Star and National University of Singapore, display neuromelanin granules and key characteristics similar to human midbrain tissue. These organoids incorporate midbrain-specific neurons (A9-like neurons) that express crucial markers (TH, DAT, and GIRK2), making them highly representative of real midbrain tissue. RNA-seq analysis from human prenatal midbrain samples shows that hMLOs better capture prenatal midbrain traits than traditional 2D neurons, underscoring their potential as valuable tools for studying midbrain functions and associated diseases.