Scientists in Singapore grow functioning 'mini' midbrain tissue

SINGAPORE — Scientists in Singapore claim to have successfully grown functioning midbrain tissue — a feat that may bring researchers a step closer to finding a cure for brain diseases like Parkinson's disease.

The group of researchers from the A*Star Genome Institute of Singapore, the Duke-NUS Medical School and the National Neuroscience Institute announced their findings from their two-year research effort to the press on Thursday.

While other researchers have previously managed to grow brain tissue in a lab, the Singapore team says their "eureka moment" came when they found the midbrain tissue had created neuromelanin, a pigment found in the human midbrain.

The brain organoid in a small jar, with black pigment visible.

IMAGE: VICTORIA HO/MASHABLE

The midbrain is located in the brain stem, and is the part of the brain responsible for controlling auditory, eye movement and body movement.

The brain of a Parkinson's disease sufferer shows depleted levels of neuromelanin, which has been associated with protecting cells from dying. With the functioning midbrain tissue, the researchers hope it can provide new testing ground for possible cures for the disease.

IMAGE: BRUCEBLAUS/WIKIMEDIA

Professor Ng Huck Hui, the Genome Institute's executive director, said the midbrain tissue had been grown from pluripotent cells — stem cells that can be programmed to become any tissue. The scientists had established a method of turning the cells into midbrain tissue, and noticed the neuromelanin in the "mini brains" that they had grown.

"We didn't expect to find the black pigment there," he said, adding that the discovery opens the path for more targeted, individual cures. 

Microscopic view of the tissue showing the black pigment.

IMAGE: VICTORIA HO/MASHABLE

Theoretically, doctors could grow many mini brain replicas from skin cells taken from a Parkinson's patient, allowing specific testing and treatment to be done for the individual, said Professor Ng.

Each brain organoid is just 2-3mm in size, and took just over a month to grow. The tissue's neurons are "live and firing," the team said.

According to the Singapore Ministry of Health, three in every 1,000 Singaporeans over the age of 50 suffer from Parkinson's disease.

Kitchen Brains and HotSchedules put IoT on the menu

One of the leading providers of software in the kitchen, Kitchen Brains, has partnered with Internet of Things (IoT) platform provider HotSchedules to remove the complexities of technology in the kitchen, whilst also providing hot, fresh food available as soon as possible.

Kitchen Brains provides a Quality Production Manager (QPM), while HotSchedules offers the IoT platform.

“The integration plans, directs, and reports cooking instructions to ensure that food is always hot, fresh and available for guests,” said the firm. “The IoT Platform will eliminate the complexity and costs of connecting QPM to other restaurant technologies especially POS systems.”

Kitchen Brains QPM already increases fresh product scores from 50 percent to 95 percent and product availability from 60 percent to 90 percent. With the integration of HotSchedules IoT platform, all kitchen equipment will work without using the traditional APIs, which should improve the freshness, availability, and reduce costs.

“No matter what forecasting software you use, real-time sales data is the key to validating your predictions and adapting to new conditions. Real-time sales data is essential for QPM to deliver precise production management. That is why partnering with HotSchedules will be valuable to our customers,” said Mario Ceste, CEO at Kitchen Brains.

Internet of Things in the kitchen

HotSchedules IoT platform sends information to two apps, Reveal and Inventory. Reveal provides business insights into food quality, wastage, speed of service, and gives advice on how to save money. Inventory shows all the products going in and out the restaurant, and any deficit.

The Internet of Things platform also reduces the amount of integrations between applications and technologies. “In other words, if 10 restaurant technologies would normally call for 45 separate integrations, the HotSchedules IoT Platform reduces that number to just 10,” said the press release.

The integration will begin in a few months, though Kitchen Brains and HotSchedules both don’t provide a schedule for businesses.