Custom Brain Organoid Solutions for CNS Disease Modeling and Drug Discovery
Brain organoids are self-organizing 3D in vitro cultures derived from human pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that recapitulate the cellular diversity, structural architecture, and functional potential of the developing human brain. These models provide unprecedented access to human-specific neurodevelopmental processes and disease pathologies that are impossible to study using traditional 2D cultures or animal models. However, generating, maturing, and analyzing these complex tissues requires deep expertise and advanced bioengineering. Creative Biolabs' custom brain organoid services provide a robust, end-to-end platform to accelerate your CNS drug discovery and translational neuroscience research.
Service Highlights
Biomimetic Complexity
Advanced models featuring region-specificity, cellular diversity, and functional network activity.
Patient-Specific & Engineered
Utilize patient-derived or CRISPR/Cas9-edited iPSC lines to create highly relevant disease models.
Functional Validation
Integrated high-content screening (HCS) and multi-electrode array (MEA) for deep phenotypic analysis.
Scalable & Reproducible
Bioreactor-based maturation protocols ensure high-throughput capability and batch-to-batch consistency.
Our Brain Organoid Modeling Platform
Advanced Assembloid & Bioengineered Models
Our cutting-edge platform generates highly sophisticated models that mimic in vivo tissue-level complexity.
- Region-Specific Assembloids: We fuse distinct, region-specific organoids (e.g., cortical-subpallial) to model complex neural circuitry, long-range axon projection, and interneuron migration.
- Vascularized Organoids: By co-culturing with endothelial and pericyte progenitors, we engineer organoids with self-organizing vascular-like networks, enhancing maturation and enabling studies on blood-brain barrier (BBB) integration.
- Immune-Competent Models: We incorporate iPSC-derived microglia into our organoid cultures to create faithful models of neuroinflammation, synaptic pruning, and glial-neuron interactions central to neurodegenerative diseases.
- Bioreactor-Based Maturation: Utilizing advanced spinning or perfusion bioreactors, we facilitate superior nutrient and oxygen exchange, promoting long-term culture (months to years) for advanced neuronal maturation and network formation.
Custom and Foundational Organoid Models
- Region-Specific Organoids: We offer established protocols for various brain regions, including Forebrain/Cortical, Midbrain (Dopaminergic), Hippocampal, and Cerebellar organoids.
- Patient-Derived Disease Models: We develop models from patient-derived iPSCs for a range of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and rare genetic diseases.
- CRISPR-Engineered Models: We provide full-service iPSC gene editing (Knock-out, Knock-in, point mutations) to create isogenic controls and model specific genetic drivers of disease.
Our Comprehensive Services
Custom Organoid Model
Generation end-to-end development, from iPSC sourcing (client-provided or our biobank) and gene editing to long-term maturation and cryopreservation of your bespoke 3D brain models.
Phenotypic & High-Content Screening (HCS)
We perform automated, multiplexed imaging and AI-driven analysis to quantify complex cellular phenotypes, including neurite outgrowth, synaptic density (Synapsin/PSD-95), protein aggregation (p-Tau, α-Synuclein), and cell-type specific marker expression.
Functional & Electrophysiological Analysis
Using MEA technology, we assess functional readouts such as spontaneous network activity, synchronized bursting, and network response to pharmacological agents, providing critical data on network maturation and neurotoxicity.
Multi-Omics & Mechanistic Studies
We offer integrated analysis, including single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) to dissect cellular heterogeneity, as well as bulk RNA-seq, Proteomics, and advanced IHC/IF imaging for deep mechanistic validation.
Service Workflow
-
Project Consultation & Design
Our PhD-level scientists collaborate with you to define project goals, experimental design, and critical endpoints.
-
iPSC Sourcing & Engineering
We secure or generate the required iPSC lines, performing rigorous QC and any necessary gene editing.
-
Organoid Differentiation & Maturation
We apply optimized, region-specific protocols and bioreactor technology to generate and mature your custom organoids.
-
Model Validation & QC
We perform comprehensive characterization (e.g., IHC, qPCR) to ensure all models meet stringent quality standards for cellular identity and structural organization.
-
Downstream Assays & Data Analysis
We execute the planned functional (MEA), phenotypic (HCS), or omics assays and perform in-depth computational analysis.
-
Expert Interpretation & Reporting
We deliver a comprehensive data package, including all raw data, detailed methodologies, and expert interpretation to support your program.
Applications Enhanced by Brain Organoids
Our advanced brain organoid platforms provide transformative solutions across the entire CNS drug discovery pipeline, from fundamental mechanistic biology to pre-clinical safety and efficacy testing.
Neurodegenerative Disease Modeling
Investigate the complex, human-specific mechanisms of proteinopathy in disorders like Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's (PD). Standard organoids can model Aβ and p-Tau aggregation or α-Synuclein spread. However, our advanced immune-competent models, which integrate iPSC-derived microglia, are essential for studying neuroinflammation. Recent research confirms that reactive microglia not only respond to plaques but actively contribute to pathology through aberrant synaptic pruning and the non-cell-autonomous spread of pathogenic tau. Our models allow you to test therapeutics targeting these specific glial-neuron interactions.
Figure 1. Neuron-glia interactions in neurodevelopmental disorders.2,8
Neurodevelopmental Disorder Research
Model complex neurodevelopmental events like cell migration, regional specification, and synaptic formation to understand the etiology of disorders like ASD and schizophrenia. We utilize brain assembloid technology, fusing distinct, region-specific organoids (e.g., dorsal and ventral forebrain). This approach is critical for modeling GABAergic interneuron migration from the medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) to the cortex—a process robustly linked to ASD and epilepsy. This platform, especially when combined with CRISPR screening, can identify how specific patient-derived mutations disrupt circuit formation.
Figure 2. Cortical organoid models.3,8
Therapeutic Efficacy & Target Validation
Move beyond simple cell-viability assays by screening your compound libraries on a functionally relevant 3D platform. We leverage HCS to perform automated, image-based phenotypic profiling of organoids in 96- or 384-well formats. This allows for the quantification of complex, disease-relevant metrics, such as the rescue of neurite outgrowth defects, reduction of synaptic puncta loss, or the inhibition of pathogenic protein aggregation. This approach provides a powerful, scalable readout for therapeutic efficacy that bridges the gap between 2D screening and in vivo studies.
Figure 3. Scheme for therapeutic efficacy of cerebral organoids.4,8
Neurotoxicity & Safety Screening
Provide more predictive safety data and reduce animal model usage by adopting organoids for Developmental Neurotoxicity (DNT) testing. Traditional models often fail to capture human-specific toxicological responses. By integrating our mature brain organoids with high-density multi-electrode arrays (hdMEAs), we can detect subtle toxicant-induced changes in functional network activity. This platform captures complex readouts like spontaneous firing rates, network synchronization, and synchronized bursting, revealing human-specific neurotoxic effects (e.g., from environmental compounds or drug candidates) that are invisible in standard 2D or rodent models.
Figure 4. 2D MEAs for electrophysiological measurement in neural organoids.5,8
Personalized Medicine
Test therapeutic responses on organoids derived directly from individual patient iPSCs. This is particularly powerful for complex, sporadic diseases like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Alzheimer's. Recent studies (e.g., in 2024-2025) have shown that patient-derived motor neuron or cortical organoids can reveal highly specific, disease-relevant phenotypes (e.g., neurofilament aggregation, metabolic dysregulation, or hyperexcitability) that are not present in healthy controls. This platform allows you to pre-clinically stratify patient populations and test compound efficacy against specific, complex genetic backgrounds.
Figure 5. Personalized medicine using brain organoids.6,8
Mechanistic Biology
Dissect the fundamental pathways of human brain development and disease using the latest multi-omics technologies. We go beyond bulk analysis by applying single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptomics to our organoid models. This creates high-resolution cellular atlases that allow you to track differentiation trajectories, identify novel or rare cell populations, and map the cell-type-specific gene regulatory networks that are disrupted by a specific mutation or compound. This unbiased, discovery-driven approach is essential for identifying novel therapeutic targets.
Figure 6. Dimension reduction of brain cells.7,8
-model-service-solutions-for-cns-drug-discovery-9.webp)
Why partner with us?
Choosing a research partner for your CNS program is a critical decision. We offer more than just a fee-for-service transaction; we provide a dedicated, collaborative scientific partnership designed to de-risk your projects and accelerate your pre-clinical drug discovery pipeline.
Deep Scientific Expertise: Our team is composed of PhD-level neuroscientists and stem cell biologists with specialized expertise in 3D culture, neurodevelopment, and disease pathology. We provide in-depth, consultative support from initial project design and iPSC sourcing to complex data interpretation.
Cutting-Edge, Validated Platforms: We have mastered the most advanced technologies in the field. From functionally predictive Assembloid and Vascularized Organoid models to high-throughput analysis via HCS and MEA, our platforms are robust, reproducible, and ready to answer your most complex biological questions.
Focus on Actionable Data: We are committed to rigor and transparency. We deliver comprehensive, publication-quality data packages that include all raw data, detailed methodologies, and expert interpretation. Our goal is to provide clear, actionable insights that enable confident decision-making for your pre-clinical program.
Flexibility and Customization: We understand that every project is unique. We don't force your research into a pre-set box. Instead, we adapt our protocols and tailor our models and readouts to meet your specific scientific objectives and critical endpoints.
Our Trusted Partners
We are proud to collaborate with leading pharmaceutical companies, innovative biotechnology firms, and world-class academic institutions. Our commitment to quality, scientific rigor, and confidentiality has made us a trusted partner for advancing neuroscience research worldwide.
-Model-Service-Solutions-for-CNS-Drug-Discovery-10.svg)
-Model-Service-Solutions-for-CNS-Drug-Discovery-11.svg)
-Model-Service-Solutions-for-CNS-Drug-Discovery-12.svg)
-Model-Service-Solutions-for-CNS-Drug-Discovery-13.svg)
-Model-Service-Solutions-for-CNS-Drug-Discovery-14.svg)
-model-service-solutions-for-cns-drug-discovery-15.webp)
-model-service-solutions-for-cns-drug-discovery-16.webp)
-model-service-solutions-for-cns-drug-discovery-17.webp)
-model-service-solutions-for-cns-drug-discovery-18.webp)
-model-service-solutions-for-cns-drug-discovery-19.webp)
-model-service-solutions-for-cns-drug-discovery-20.webp)
-model-service-solutions-for-cns-drug-discovery-21.webp)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
References
- Bogoslowski, Ania, et al. "Incorporating Immune Cells into Organoid Models: Essential for Studying Human Disease." Organoids, vol. 2, no. 3, Aug. 2023, pp. 140–55. DOI.org, https://doi.org/10.3390/organoids2030011.
- Kim, Yoo Sung, et al. "Neuron-Glia Interactions in Neurodevelopmental Disorders." Cells, vol. 9, no. 10, Sept. 2020, p. 2176. DOI.org, https://doi.org/10.3390/cells9102176.
- Zourray, Clara, et al. "Electrophysiological Properties of Human Cortical Organoids: Current State of the Art and Future Directions." Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, vol. 15, Feb. 2022, p. 839366. DOI.org, https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2022.839366.
- Chen, Juan, et al. "Cerebral Organoid Arrays for Batch Phenotypic Analysis in Sections and Three Dimensions." International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 24, no. 18, Sept. 2023, p. 13903. DOI.org, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241813903.
- Song, Jiyoung, et al. "Monitoring of Electrophysiological Functions in Brain‐on‐a‐Chip and Brain Organoids." Advanced NanoBiomed Research, vol. 4, no. 9, Sept. 2024, p. 2400052. DOI.org, https://doi.org/10.1002/anbr.202400052.
- Kelava, Iva, and Madeline A. Lancaster. "Dishing out Mini-Brains: Current Progress and Future Prospects in Brain Organoid Research." Developmental Biology, vol. 420, no. 2, Dec. 2016, pp. 199–209. DOI.org, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2016.06.037.
- Wang, Xuran, et al. "Constructing Local Cell Sepcific Networks from Single Cell Data." Genomics, 14 Feb. 2021. DOI.org, https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.02.13.431104.
- Distributed under Open Access license CC BY 4.0, without modification.
Request a Quote
Fill out the form below, and our expert team will contact you to design your custom project and accelerate breakthrough innovations.