Aim
To develop a high-throughput and reproducible human organoid platform, which can be used to investigate mechanisms related to neurological disorders and for the validation of new drugs.
Approach
The MiCO Platform team uses human induced pluripotent stem cells to develop micro brains. The micro brains, which are microscopic models of either the human fore-, mid- or hindbrain, can be generated from any patient cell sample, and they are both fast and easy to produce; their small size and high reproducibility make them ideal for drug candidate screening.
Outcome
During the project (2020–2023), the MiCO Platform team successfully developed miniaturized, highly reproducible neuronal organoids (MiCOs) representing different regions of the human brain. The platform provides fast and scalable production of organoids that are consistent from batch to batch and suitable for high-throughput screening. MiCOs can be used to model neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and ALS, providing a robust platform for disease research and drug candidate evaluation.
Below, you can watch a video recorded at the beginning of the MiCO Platform project, which describes the project's aim. You can also read an article on the output of the project and find lists of project participants and articles published by the MiCO Platform team.
THE MiCO Platform TEAM
Academic team members
- Mark Denham, Assoc. Professor, Aarhus University
- Daniel Otzen, Professor, Aarhus University
- Muwan Chen, Assist. Professor, Aarhus University
Industrial team members
- Jonathan Niclis, Novo Nordisk
- Morten Venø, omiics
PUBLICATIONS FROM THE MiCO Platform PROJECT
- Chen M et al. 2023. Protocol for generating reproducible miniaturized controlled midbrain organoids. STAR STAR Protoc.15;4(3):102451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102451
ABOUT ODIN
We unite bright minds from industry and academia to jointly create need-driven clinical research projects - and pave the way for innovative new treatments and diagnostics. We fund the best project ideas through competitive funding calls. Although companies cannot receive funding, it is free of charge to join.
The platform is sponsored by the Novo Nordisk Foundation with 180 million DKK from 2024-2029.
CONTACT ODIN
You are welcome to contact us if you have questions or comments. Reach out to odin@au.dk or find the Secretariat's direct email addresses under contacts.
Although the platform spans five Danish universities, we're based in Aarhus. Our office is located at Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, Bldg 1535-117.
