Current projectReview

Research using neural organoids

Assessing and advising on the ethical and regulatory issues raised by research using neural organoids.

Organoids are small, lab-grown three-dimensional structures that are made from stem cells to model different aspects of an organ or tissue. Neural organoids are used to model different aspects of the developing brain.

In March 2024 we published a briefing note offering an evidence-based and balanced summary of the main ethical considerations in neural organoid research and the ethical issues that might arise in the future

We then conducted further evidence-gathering to inform our ethical analysis and help us develop recommendations for the regulation and governance of research involving neural organoids in the UK. We appointed an interdisciplinary expert Working Group to oversee this work.

In May 2026, we published a report setting out the current state of the science and projected future developments relating to neural organoids and similar models, analysing the likely ethical and governance challenges arising from them and making recommendations for change.