In this episode of FYI, Brett Winton and Nemo Marjanovic sit down with Professor Thomas Hartung, MD-PhD, a leading expert in biomedical innovation at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. They explore how human organoids—3D organ proxies—are revolutionizing drug discovery and toxicology testing by reducing reliance on animal models. Professor Hartung explains how advancements in stem cell science, microfluidics, and artificial intelligence are converging to accelerate clinical trials, increase safety, and lower costs. The conversation also delves into the ethical considerations of biological computing, where organoids may one day aid in cognition and pattern recognition tasks. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• The limitations of animal testing in preclinical drug discovery.
• How human organoids replicate organ functionality, improving research accuracy.
• The role of stem cells and microfluidics in advancing organ-on-chip technology.
• The impact of AI and big data in analyzing organoid testing outcomes.
• Examples of pharmaceutical companies adopting human-based models.
• Discussion on rapid vaccine development during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The potential for brain organoids in studying neurological diseases like autism and Alzheimer’s.
• Speculation on the use of organoids in biological computing and sensors.
• Ethical challenges surrounding the development of self-aware organoids.