• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

One of the world's leading research institutes, our scientists are working to advance understanding of biological processes at the molecular level - providing the knowledge needed to solve key problems in human health.

  • Home
  • About LMB
  • Research
  • Research Groups
  • Students
  • Recruitment
  • Life at the LMB
  • Achievements
  • News & Events
Home > Research Leaders > H to M > Madeline Lancaster
cb

Madeline Lancaster

Human brain development in cerebral organoids

mlancast@mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk
Personal group site

Human brain development exhibits a number of unique characteristics, such as dramatic size expansion, unique cell types, and distinct neural stem cell behaviors. These characteristics are difficult to examine in model organisms such as mice and are often involved in neurological diseases unique to humans, like autism and schizophrenia.

In an effort to better understand human brain development, we have developed a new model system, called cerebral organoids. Cerebral organoids, or mini-brains for short, are 3D tissues generated from human pluripotent stem cells that allow modelling of human brain development in vitro. Through a process of directed differentiation and a supportive 3D microenvironment, neural precursor tissue can spontaneously self-organize to form the stereotypic organization of the early human embryonic brain.

We have previously shown that cerebral organoids can model neurodevelopmental disorders, such as microcephaly, a disorder characterized by a significantly reduced brain size. Our current interests focus on other neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and intellectual disability, by introducing mutations seen in these disorders and examining their roles in pathogenesis in the context of organoid development. Furthermore, we are studying cellular mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disease progression and potential therapeutic avenues.

Finally, we are performing comparative evolutionary studies aimed at identifying conserved or unique factors in human brain size evolution, by introducing mutations to mimic the genetics of nonhuman primates and other mammals. These studies will hopefully shed light on fundamental questions about what makes us human and begin to tackle difficult questions pertaining to a number of debilitating neurological diseases.

ML-1

Selected Papers

  • Pellegrini L, Bonfio C, Chadwick J, Begum F, Skehel M, Lancaster MA. (2020)
    Human CNS barrier-forming organoids with cerebrospinal fluid production.
    Science 369(6500): eaaz5626
  • Giandomenico SL, Mierau SB, Gibbons GM, Wenger LMD, Masullo L, Sit T, Sutcliffe M, Boulanger J, Tripodi M, Derivery E, Paulsen O, Lakatos A, Lancaster MA. (2019)
    Cerebral organoids at the air-liquid interface generate diverse nerve tracts with functional output.
    Nat Neurosci. 22(4): 669-679.
  • Lancaster MA, Corsini NS, Wolfinger S, Gustafson EH, Phillips AW, Burkard TR, Otani T, Livesey FJ, Knoblich JA. (2017)
    Guided self-organization and cortical plate formation in human brain organoids.
    Nat Biotechnol. 35(7): 659-666.
  • Giandomenico, S.L. and Lancaster, M.A. (2017)
    Probing human brain evolution and development in organoids.
    Curr Opin Cell Biol 44: 36-43.
  • Luo C, Lancaster MA, Castanon R, Nery JR, Knoblich JA, Ecker JR. (2016)
    Cerebral Organoids Recapitulate Epigenomic Signatures of the Human Fetal Brain.
    Cell Rep. 17(12): 3369-3384.
  • Kelava, I and Lancaster, M.A. (2016)
    Stem Cell Models of Human Brain Development.
    Cell Stem Cell 8: 736-748.
  • Lancaster, M.A. and Knoblich, J.A. (2014)
    Organogenesis in a dish: modeling development and disease using organoid technologies.
    Science 345: (6194):1247125.
  • Lancaster, M.A., Renner, M., Martin, C.A., Wenzel, D., Bicknell, L.S., Hurles, M.E., Homfray, T., Penninger, J.M., Jackson, A.P. and Knoblich, J.A. (2013)
    Cerebral organoids model human brain development and microcephaly.
    Nature 501: (7467):373-379.

Group Members

  • Silvia Benito
  • Ilaria Chiaradia
  • Iva Kelava
  • Wanda Kukulski
  • Feline Lindhout
  • Daniel Lloyd-Davies-Sánchez
  • Laura Pellegrini
  • Magdalena Sutcliffe (Barczyk)
  • Steven Wingett

Primary Sidebar

Research Leaders

  • A to G
    • Radu Aricescu
    • David Barford
    • Buzz Baum
    • Anne Bertolotti
    • Mariann Bienz
    • John Briggs
    • Simon Bullock
    • Albert Cardona
    • Andrew Carter
    • Jason Chin
    • Gerry Crossan
    • Emmanuel Derivery
    • Benjamin Falcon
    • Michel Goedert
    • Julian Gough
    • Ingo Greger
  • H to M
    • Michael Hastings
    • Ramanujan Hegde
    • Richard Henderson
    • Philipp Holliger
    • Leo James
    • Gregory Jefferis
    • Patrycja Kozik
    • Madeline Lancaster
    • Jan Löwe
    • Kate McDole
    • Andrew McKenzie
    • Harvey McMahon
    • Liz Miller
    • Sean Munro
    • Garib Murshudov
  • N to S
    • Kiyoshi Nagai (1949-2019)
    • David Neuhaus
    • Kelly Nguyen
    • John O’Neill
    • Lori Passmore
    • Venki Ramakrishnan
    • Felix Randow
    • Jing Ren
    • Katja Röper
    • Christopher Russo
    • Julian Sale
    • William Schafer
    • Sjors Scheres
    • Marta Shahbazi
    • John Sutherland
  • T to Z
    • Chris Tate
    • Rebecca Taylor
    • Marco Tripodi
    • Ana Tufegdzic Vidakovic
    • Roger Williams
    • Joseph Yeeles
    • Marta Zlatic
  • Emeritus
    • Brad Amos
    • Tony Crowther
    • Phil Evans
    • Alan Fersht
    • Michael Gait
    • Rob Kay
    • John Kendrick-Jones
    • John Kilmartin
    • Peter Lawrence
    • Andrew Leslie
    • Hugh Pelham
    • Daniela Rhodes
    • Murray Stewart
    • Andrew Travers
    • Nigel Unwin
    • Greg Winter
  • LMB Fellows
  • Molecular Immunity Unit

Search

  • Privacy & Cookies
  • Contact Directory
  • Freedom of Information
  • Site Map
Find Us
©2021 MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology,
Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK. 01223 267000

The MRC is part of UK Research and Innovation

[ Placeholder content for popup link ] WordPress Download Manager - Best Download Management Plugin