Professor Hans Schöler in an interview with the information initiative Tierversuche verstehen (Understanding Animal Experiments)

Brain organoids - medical benefits and ethical limits

January 28, 2025

Brain organoids are increasingly being used in research into diseases such as Alzheimer's, schizophrenia and Parkinson's, as they provide insights into the development and function of nerve cells. Brain organoids are tiny, three-dimensional cell structures that are grown in the laboratory from human stem cells. Human brain organoids can reproduce the structures of the human brain more accurately than animal models. They make it possible to investigate disease mechanisms, test new therapies and search for genetic correlations. However, their use also raises ethical questions, such as the possible consciousness of the organoids or the handling of these complex biological models. In an interview with Dr. Roman Stilling, scientific officer of Tierversuche verstehen (Understanding Animal Experiments), Professor Hans Schöler talks about the medical benefits and ethical limits of brain organoids.

When it comes to alternatives to animal testing, organoids are the talk of the town. Organoids are artificial organ parts that are grown in cell cultures outside the body. Brain organoids in particular are parts of the human brain that are produced in this way and help to understand human diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. However, the artificial organs have their limitations. The supply of cell tissue can only be guaranteed up to a certain size. This is where animal testing comes into play: when a brain organoid is transplanted into a mouse, it can continue to grow and be cared for under perfect conditions. But what are the real benefits of the method? And where are the ethical limits of these experiments? Dr. Roman Stilling asks stem cell researcher Professor Hans R. Schöler, who conducted research at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, these and many other questions in an interview.<br>(In German)

Growing brains in the lab: how far should research go?

When it comes to alternatives to animal testing, organoids are the talk of the town. Organoids are artificial organ parts that are grown in cell cultures outside the body. Brain organoids in particular are parts of the human brain that are produced in this way and help to understand human diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. However, the artificial organs have their limitations. The supply of cell tissue can only be guaranteed up to a certain size. This is where animal testing comes into play: when a brain organoid is transplanted into a mouse, it can continue to grow and be cared for under perfect conditions. But what are the real benefits of the method? And where are the ethical limits of these experiments? Dr. Roman Stilling asks stem cell researcher Professor Hans R. Schöler, who conducted research at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, these and many other questions in an interview.
(In German)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avR4VoWgiQo

Further links:

Brain organoids - medical benefits and ethical limits
The video of the interview on the website of the information initiative Tierversuche verstehen.
(in German) more
Are animal experiments still necessary today? A collection of quotes (in German)
Animal experiments are no longer necessary thanks to alternative methods, or are they? The Initiative Tierversuche verstehen has collected over 100 statements from scientists (including Professor Hans Schöler), animal carers and institute directors at German research institutions. The diversity of these perspectives on “animals in research” is striking: Each and every one of them supports the 3Rs approach Replace, Reduce, Refine - in other words, is keen to replace animal experiments, reduce their number and improve conditions for laboratory animals. However, they also agree that it is not yet possible to completely eliminate animal testing. more
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