Screening 3D Brain Cell Cultures for Drug Discovery

This webinar will be hosted live and available on-demand

Thursday, August 21st, 2025
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM ET

Advancing neurological disorder research requires model systems that more accurately reflect the human brain. 3D cell cultures, such as organoids and spheroids, have emerged as game-changers by better recapitulating the brain’s complex structure and function. These models open the door for high-throughput drug screening and the development of novel therapeutic strategies. 

In this webinar brought to you by The Scientist, Cathryn Haigh and Lena Smirnova will discuss how cutting-edge 3D brain cell culture models advance their understanding of neurological disorders and accelerate drug discovery.

Topics to be covered

• Developing a prion-infected human cerebral organoid model to improve therapeutic development for prion diseases
• Applying brain microphysiological systems with translational potential to investigate complex neurobiological processes, including metal-induced synaptic changes

Cathryn Haigh, PhD Chief, Prion Cell Biology Unit National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease

Lena Smirnova, PhD Assistant Professor Department of Environmental Health and Engineering Johns Hopkins University