Efforts to understand and treat neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson’s disease often run up against the limitations of traditional lab models. In response, researchers are shifting toward more patient-relevant systems. Professor Jens Christian Schwamborn at the University of Luxembourg is at the forefront of this shift, leading research into stem cell-derived brain organoids designed to better mirror the complexity of the human brain.
Schwamborn’s lab focuses on the development of 3D brain organoids and assembloids from patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). These organoids are used to model individual manifestations of neurological diseases, including Parkinson’s. By starting with adult cells such as blood or skin samples, researchers reprogram them into iPSCs and differentiate them into diverse brain cell types, forming structures that more closely reflect the in vivo cellular environment.
These models aim to replicate both normal brain function and disease-specific changes, including those linked to Parkinson’s pathology. Schwamborn notes that while the process of creating and analysing a single organoid system can take a month or more, it provides a robust platform for studying disease mechanisms and therapeutic responses in a patient-specific context.
The research also points toward long-term applications in personalised medicine. By using these models to group patients based on molecular traits rather than symptom-based classifications, researchers may eventually help tailor treatment plans based on how an individual’s brain organoid responds to different drugs. “Parkinson’s is likely not a single disease but a set of conditions with similar symptoms,” Schwamborn explains. “These models help us start to distinguish between them.”
The models may also influence how future clinical trials are designed—bringing a more targeted, data-driven approach to neurological care.
