Engineering the Brain—In the Lab and in Space

In this fascinating episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphall welcomes Dr. Alysson Muotri, a professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Cellular & Molecular Medicine at the University of California, San Diego., for a deep dive into what makes the human brain unique—and how understanding that uniqueness might unlock new treatments for neurological disorders. From stem cell brain models grown in the lab to sending "mini-brains" into space, Dr. Muotri shares his bold, unconventional path to advancing neuroscience and personalized medicine.

Dr. Muotri discusses his work creating 3D brain organoids to model human neurological development, including conditions like autism and epilepsy. He explains how modern humans evolved slower brain development than our ancestors, and how that developmental window leaves us vulnerable to mutation and disease—but also offers the complexity that makes human cognition and collaboration possible.

The conversation also touches on ethical frontiers, including the potential for lab-grown brains to develop consciousness, the future of neuroscience in space, and how traditional Amazonian medicine may offer clues to protecting the brain.

In This Episode:

Why collaboration and sociality are key traits of the human brain
How brain organoids help us study disorders like autism without invasive methods
Using Neanderthal DNA to uncover what’s uniquely human
Why space accelerates brain aging—and how that might fast-track drug discovery
The ethical questions we must face as lab-grown brain tissues become more advanced
How Dr. Muotri’s personal journey as a father shaped his scientific mission
The need for alternative funding models to support bold, high-risk science
Quotes to Remember:
🧠 “We’re not just studying the brain. We’re building avatars of it.”
🚀 “Thirty days in space aged our brain organoids by ten years.”
🧬 “Autism may be the price we pay for having evolved a social brain.”
🌱 “Maybe the cure for Alzheimer’s is growing in the Amazon. We just have to look.”

Links & Resources:

Learn more about Dr. Muotri’s lab: [Search “Alysson Muotri UCSD”]
Explore the Karen Toffler Charitable Trust: https://tofflertrust.org


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