Organoids are miniaturized 3D tissue structures that have mimic the structure of a human organ, such as the brain. But can an organoid mimic not just the structure, but the function of a brain, and can it grow past beyond the small structure? How much can an organoid develop into something that is useful for studying disorders like autism? On this week’s podcast, we interview Dr. Kevin Kelley, a neuroscientist and psychiatrist from @Stanford University who spent that past decade developing tools to better understand the potential of organoids. He explains how he created the organoids and the systems needed to show that they can develop past a few cells, that they make connections with other brain cells, spread out, connect, and function in a model system like a brain. This new discovery provides more hope for utilizing it as a system for better understanding the autistic brain and for screening lots of treatment candidates for people who need them.

OPEN ACCESS: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-11032-2

This week we talk to Dr. Dan Geschwind from UCLA who was funded by the Autism Data Science Initiative to study thousands of environmental chemicals and medicines across various genetic backgrounds. A decade ago, this study would have taken a decade, but through new technology, robotics, and existing knowledge about genes and these chemicals, it is automated and can be done is 3 years. Dr. Geschwind will explain how he is using cells from people with autism to identify potential environmental factors that may contribute to a diagnosis of autism, or exacerbate or aleviate symptoms of autism and developmental disorders. This is incredibly cool – have a listen to what this ADSI project is doing and what it can tell scientists about what is important to focus on in autism.

How do you know an intervention is working? It starts with making sure you are measuring the right thing. This week, Drs. Mary Wojnaroski from Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Natasha Ludwig from the Kennedy Krieger Institute who work on the Inchstone Project to talk about outcome measures around intellectual function and cognition. Some tools might be used to measure both strengths and weaknesses in those with intellectual disability. But first, clinicians need to know what impacts families the most. What skills are most important to help their children leave fulfilling lives?

YOU can be a part of this work! The Inchstone Project is launching a new survey for families of those with IDD or seizures or global developmental delay. This important survey to a wide group of caregivers asks what are the biggest priorities in an intervention study and what makes the most difference to them. TAKE THE SURVEY HERE: https://inchstoneproject.org/pss2/