Two recent studies published in Nature showcase the potential of organoids—3D clusters of cells resembling human organs—in advancing medical research. One study, led by Sergiu Pașca at Stanford University, focuses on modeling Timothy syndrome, a rare genetic disorder affecting neurodevelopment and heart function. Traditional animal models fall short in mimicking this disorder consistently due to genetic variations. Pașca’s team uses brain organoids derived from human stem cells to replicate the disorder’s complexities, offering insights into its mechanisms and potential treatments.

In another study, Matthias Lütolf at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology models colon and rectum tissue using mouse stem cells. By engineering these organoids with light-sensitive proteins linked to cancer-causing genes, they simulate colon cancer development. Remarkably, when subjected to calorie restriction, the organoids exhibit fewer tumors, mirroring findings in human colorectal cancer. Although the complexity of organoids makes large-scale drug screening challenging, they offer a valuable platform for studying tumor responses to treatments and investigating the impact of environmental factors and immune responses on cancer progression.