News & Insights
Building the Future of Human Neuroscience
A conversation with Sergiu Pasca
Advances in stem-cell research are expanding the frontiers of neuroscience, with neural organoids—3D clusters of brain-like tissue grown from human stem cells—opening new windows into how the brain develops and why certain diseases arise. At Stanford University’s School of Medicine, Sergiu Pasca, M.D., and his team are advancing these models to map brain circuitry and study conditions such as autism and rare genetic syndromes.
While these breakthroughs show great promise, they also raise questions that extend far beyond the lab: Could complex models ever show signs of awareness or pain? How should scientists communicate about advances in these models accurately and responsibly?
During a recent visit to the Dana Foundation’s office in New York City, Pasca sat down with Dana’s president, Caroline Montojo, for a filmed interview that further explores these questions. The latest episode of NeuroSociety Stories, now available on YouTube, offers a thoughtful look at both the potential and responsibilities of this rapidly evolving field, emphasizing the need for clear, ethical standards as neural organoid and assembloid research grows more sophisticated.
Meeting these challenges requires more than technical expertise, Pasca says. It calls for dialogue across disciplines and with patients, and a shared ethical framework that keeps pace with discovery. From sourcing patient-derived cells to anticipating the capabilities of highly complex models, the field must balance innovation with thoughtful self-governance. “Psychiatric disorders bring immense suffering,” he says. “We have to think about what the goal is for most of this technology and how we’re going to actually deploy it.”
That perspective is also at the heart of an upcoming meeting he is co-organizing at the Asilomar Conference Grounds with Stanford colleague Hank Greely, J.D., director of the Center for Law and the Biosciences.
Supported by the Dana Foundation, the in-person gathering for “The Ethical and Societal Implications of Neural Organoids, Assembloids, and their Transplantation” will take place November 10–12, 2025, bringing together scientists, ethicists, policymakers, communicators, and families affected by brain disorders to shape thoughtful guidance for the future of neural organoid research. “Our goal was really to bring everybody together first and have a healthy conversation about the real issues,” Pasca says.
Looking to the future, Pasca spoke with optimism about the next generation of neuroscientists, encouraging students to embrace the field’s convergence of biology, technology, and philosophy. “There’s never been a better time to study neuroscience,” he said—advice featured in a bonus clip here:
Watch the full interview below to hear more about Pasca’s groundbreaking work, his vision for ethical innovation, and how collaboration across science and society can unlock new understanding of the human brain.
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