“Enhancing Tissue Architecture and Fidelity in Single-Lumen Human Brain Organoids Using Hydrostatic Pressure”

Zeke Benshirim, a Ph.D. candidate at Harvard University, received IFER funding from 2024-2025 for his project, “Enhancing Tissue Architecture and Fidelity in Single-Lumen Human Brain Organoids Using Hydrostatic Pressure.” Zeke is developing a method to enhance the structural integrity of brain organoids, which lose their organization over time, limiting their ability to accurately mimic human brain development and diseases like epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease. To address this, Zeke will replicate the natural process of neural tube inflation by carefully and precisely injecting fluid into the core of the organoid, maintaining its structure, and promoting proper growth. This research could lead to more reliable and human-relevant models for studying neurological disease and testing treatments, offering a powerful alternative to animal testing.