Dementia is increasing at a rate that exceeds current therapeutic and preventive capabilities, with an estimated 139 million individuals affected by 2050 and a projected global cost of $2.8 trillion by 20301.

Existing biomarkers primarily quantify molecular or imaging endpoints, such as amyloid plaques and tau tangles, which indicate target engagement but do not reflect cognitive function.

Organoid Intelligence (OI) provides a novel platform to study functional cognitive biomarkers through the use of human brain organoids coupled with neural interfacing technologies. Embedded electrode arrays enable the recording and modulation of electrophysiological activity in three-dimensional neural networks, facilitating the assessment of processes related to memory and learning.

In this on-demand webinar, Dr. Corey Rountree reviews recent advances in applying OI to model and measure cognitive function.

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Discussion Points

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• Recording spontaneous electrophysiology from CNS-3D brain organoids
• Employing closed-loop interfacing to stimulate and monitor network-level responses
• Quantifying long-term potentiation (LTP) as a reproducible measure of synaptic plasticity
• Evaluating pharmacological modulation of LTP and learning in a 24-well assay format suitable for preclinical screening
• RNA sequencing of CNS-3D brain organoids shows transcriptional changes that align with memory and learning processes

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Speaker

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Corey Rountree, PhD
Lead Scientist, Functional Engineering, 28bio

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Dr. Corey Rountree serves as Lead Scientist at 28Bio, where he spearheads the company’s advancements in Organoid Intelligence, with a focus on developing novel methods for electrophysiological characterization and image analysis using machine and deep learning. He earned his undergraduate degree from Rice University and his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University.

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References

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1. WHO Global Response to Dementia