Thinking in a Dish Stem Cell Research and the Human Brain | Panel Discussion

To address the inadequate understanding of mental illness and psychiatric disorders in humans, scientists at the ‘Accelerator program for Discovery in Brain disorders using Stem cells’ (ADBS) use stem cells to replicate the functioning of a brain at the cellular level. These stem cells are grown by harvesting white blood cells and differentiating them to produce the cell types seen in the human brain. Modern stem cell technology allows the production of such 'disease-in-a-dish' models of the human brain, in some cases to the extent that they resemble mini brains grown in the laboratory. Such models have tremendous potential for understanding mechanisms in human brain disorders. Some have argued that these neural cells, known as cerebral organoids, may have the potential for various kinds of mental activity like thinking, cognition, and consciousness. While this research can potentially unlock many of the mysteries surrounding the human brain and mental illness, it is fraught with ethical and legal concerns. Given the lack of clarity around both the power and limitations of stem cell technology, there is an urgent need for public dialogue on understanding and governing its use in research and medicine. Bringing together researchers from science and technology, global health, and cell biology, this panel discussion will examine the current status of cerebral organoid research. Join us to ponder upon the ethical questions and governance surrounding stem cell research. Subscribe for updates: https://www.bit.ly/SGB_newsletter Follow us Twitter:   / scigalleryblr   Instagram:   / scigalleryblr   Facebook:   / sgblr