Research Highlight:
Madison Wilson and Martin Thunemann
Madison Wilson: 4th year Ph.D. student, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, San Diego
Martin Thunemann: research assistant professor (BME), Boston University College of Engineering
Studying human cortical organoids in the mouse retrosplenial cortex with two-photon imaging and electrophysiology
This research highlight features Madison Wilson and Martin Thunemann’s collaborative work with neuroscientists and engineers at Boston University, University of California San Diego, and Salk Institute. Their group wanted to explore the integration of human cortical organoids in the mouse brain using electrophysiology and two-photon imaging. Madison discusses the neuroelectronics used for measuring electrical activity and Martin explains their use of two-photon technology for imaging the organoids.
“Our lab is curious about the functional aspect of implanting organoids in the mouse brain. After an external stimulus, does the organoid not only physically connect but also start to form functional responses as well? That was the baseline motivation for our work, and we also wanted to use both imaging and electrical recordings because you get different trade-offs.”
“We have very clear stainings of human cells that the mouse vessels are starting to perfuse. It’s a bit like an injury that needs to be healed because when we put the human cells in, the mouse responds by starting to supply oxygen and nutrients to the organoids, which enables them to grow. We also see that the human cells survive for four months, six months, and eight months.”
ABOUT THE RESEARCHER:
Madison Wilson – Madison Wilson is a 4th year Ph.D. student in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California, San Diego.
Martin Thunemann – Martin Thunemann is a research assistant professor (BME) at Boston University College of Engineering.
FIELD OF STUDY:
Madison Wilson is a member of Duygu Kuzum’s “Neuroelectronics Group” which studies nanoelectronics in the brain while Martin Thunemann is a member of Anna Devor’s “Neurovascular Imaging Laboratory” studying vascularization and metabolic activity in living animals. A collaboration between these labs offers a creative approach to investigating the functionality of organoids.
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