Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration on Neural Organoids

The field of neuroscience is experiencing a remarkable period of discovery driven by talented researchers and engineers, leading to breakthroughs that can enhance healthcare, drive technological innovation, and strengthen the economy. As neuroscience continues to advance, new discoveries not only offer immense potential but also introduce complex ethical and societal challenges.

One area where these issues are particularly important is in the development of neural organoids and assembloids—3D clusters of human neural cells grown in the lab. These models have revolutionized our understanding of brain development and disease, but they also raise considerations about oversight, consent, and public trust. Without thoughtful governance and clear science communication, neuroscience may face similar public skepticism that has challenged other transformative fields, from AI to gene editing.

At the Dana Foundation, we believe that progress in neuroscience requires a proactive approach to considering ethical and societal implications, self-governance, and bidirectional public engagement. This commitment led us, in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health, to co-fund the 2021 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) consensus study on The Emerging Field of Human Neural Organoids, Transplants, and Chimeras. This study assessed the state of the science, issues of ethical concern, assessment of consciousness and pain in these models, oversight and regulation, and public engagement and communication. Among its findings, the report found that many ethical concerns raised by current and near-future research can be addressed by oversight mechanisms that are already in place. However, if neural organoids become significantly more complex, ethical concerns will need to be reassessed.

Four years later, research involving human neural organoids and assembloids has advanced rapidly. Sensationalized headlines about “organoid intelligence” are shaping public understanding, while emerging transplantation studies blur traditional boundaries between human and non-human systems. The rapid acceleration of this field urges renewed dialogue and updated ethical guidelines, as well as careful consideration of the communications framing and terminology associated with it.

In April 2024, scientists, ethicists, legal scholars, and patient groups convened by Sergiu Pașca, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University and a pioneer in neural organoids research, and Hank Greely, professor of law at Stanford, identified four urgent areas for attention as the field moves forward:

• Stronger oversight mechanisms to ensure responsible use of neural organoids in research and potential clinical applications.
• Clearer consent processes that reflect the unique ethical challenges of this research, particularly as organoids become more functionally sophisticated.
• Careful consideration of uses beyond basic science, including the transplantation of neural organoids into non-human animals and its implications for species boundaries.
• More effective public engagement to prevent misinterpretation and misinformation, ensuring that science remains transparent and trustworthy.

This year, the Dana Foundation will advance these efforts by sponsoring a second convening led by Pașca, focused on developing updated ethical standards for neural organoid and assembloid research, including their transplantation into non-human animals. The meeting will foster interdisciplinary dialogue, promote public understanding and engagement, and contribute to the responsible advancement of neuroscience.

We also remain committed to advancing public engagement on neural organoid research. The lessons of past scientific advancements are clear: when intentional, bidirectional public engagement about emerging technology is lacking, mistrust, misunderstanding, and misalignment of values can overshadow potential benefits. The neuroscience field has tremendous opportunity to take the lead in proactive communication and anticipatory public engagement, ensuring that research aligns with societal values.

Neuroscience holds the power not only to expand the frontiers of knowledge but to do so in a way that reflects our shared values and aspirations. To the scientists driving discoveries, the partners championing progress, the patients sharing their experiences, and the public engaging in these conversations—thank you. Your dedication fuels this journey, and we look forward to collaborating with you to develop frameworks that amplify neuroscience’s positive impact on society.