We are pleased to announce the publication of our latest research article in Nature Scientific Reports:
👉 « Towards a quality control framework for cerebral cortical organoids » .
This work addresses one of the major challenges in the field of organoid research: ensuring reproducibility and reliability through a standardized quality control (QC) framework for cerebral cortical organoids.
Towards Standardization: NETRI’s New Framework for Cerebral Cortical Organoid Quality Control
Cerebral organoids have emerged as groundbreaking models in neuroscience, offering an unprecedented window into human brain development, neurological diseases, and neurotoxicology. However, despite their transformative potential, one of the major barriers to their broader adoption—both in academia and industry—remains the lack of standardized methods to ensure their quality and reproducibility.
In our latest publication, recently released in Scientific Reports, NETRI and its collaborators present a comprehensive Quality Control (QC) framework for cerebral cortical organoids. This milestone study is the result of a strong partnership between SupBiotech, the CEA and NETRI, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to move the organoid field forward.
Why Quality Control Matters for Cerebral Organoids
Cerebral organoids are complex 3D structures derived from pluripotent stem cells that self-organize into architectures mimicking key aspects of the human brain. They provide unique opportunities to model:
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Neurodevelopmental processes such as neurogenesis, migration, and synaptogenesis
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Neurological disorders, including microcephaly, Down syndrome, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease
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Neurotoxicity studies, where exposure to drugs, chemicals, or pollutants can be studied in a human-relevant system
However, variability remains a major challenge. Differences in morphology, size, cell composition, and cytoarchitecture across batches make it difficult to ensure reproducibility. Without standardization, results can be inconsistent, hindering both fundamental research and preclinical applications.
A Hierarchical Scoring System for Organoid Quality
The study introduces a scoring-based QC framework, specifically designed for 60-day cortical organoids—a critical stage of maturation where neural progenitors, neurons, and astrocytes coexist.
The framework evaluates organoids across five essential criteria:
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Morphology – compactness, border integrity, absence of cysts
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Size and Growth Profile – ensuring proper developmental dynamics
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Cellular Composition – presence of expected neural populations
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Cytoarchitectural Organization – structural integrity and organization of neural layers
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Cytotoxicity – assessment of DNA damage and cell viability
Importantly, the system is hierarchical:
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An Initial QC based on non-invasive criteria (morphology and growth) allows rapid pre-selection of organoids before experiments.
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A Final QC integrates all criteria for post-study evaluation, ensuring robust and reproducible results.
To validate the system, the team exposed organoids to graded doses of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), inducing controlled variations in quality. The QC framework successfully distinguished organoids of different quality levels, proving its sensitivity, reliability, and scalability.
Implications for Research and Industry
This QC methodology is designed to be:
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User-friendly – accessible to both experts and non-specialists
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Flexible – adaptable to different types of cerebral organoids and timepoints
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Scalable – suitable for industrial applications such as drug discovery and toxicology
By minimizing observer bias and defining quantitative thresholds, this framework lays the foundation for a shared standard in the field of organoid research. Ultimately, it provides a tool that enhances reproducibility, accelerates drug candidate evaluation, and fosters the translation of organoid models into industry and clinical settings.
A Collaborative Effort
This achievement was made possible thanks to the joint expertise of:
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SupBiotech (École d’Ingénieurs en Biotechnologies, Villejuif, France)
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CEA (Service d’Étude des Prions et des Infections Atypiques, Université Paris-Saclay, France)
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NETRI (Lyon, France)
The study was led by Héloïse Castiglione, Lucie Madrange, Camille Baquerre, Benoît Guy Christian Maisonneuve, Thomas Lemonnier, Jean-Philippe Deslys, Frank Yates, Thibault Honegger, Jessica Rontard, and Pierre-Antoine Vigneron.
We warmly thank our partners SupBiotech and the CEA for their trust and collaboration.
Looking Ahead
As the field of organoid research continues to expand, the need for standardized quality frameworks will only grow stronger. By contributing this methodology, NETRI and its partners aim to advance neuroscience research, improve preclinical model reliability, and ultimately accelerate the discovery of new therapies for patients.
At NETRI, we believe that setting clear standards is not just a scientific necessity—it is a strategic enabler for the future of organoids in both academia and industry.