Phenotypic Biosensors for Testing Cellular Fitness and Disease Risk using Tissue- Specific iPSC Organoids

A major challenge in regenerative medicine is the ability to predict disease risk, therapeutic outcomes and personalize treatments. The goal of this project is to develop a new platform that uses adult human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to grow miniature human tissues in the lab and pairs them with biosensors that measure how a person’s cells respond to stress, aging, and treatment. This could provide clues about diseases a person may be prone to and help predict their ability to maintain health as they age. The system will first be tested in brain-like models to study risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Ultimately, this work could lead to a “body-on-a-chip” that helps predict disease risk, guide treatment decisions, and advance personalized medicine.