The National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) awarded a $1,107,816 Project Grant to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to develop an intelligent biocomputing system using liver organoids. The grant, titled "PROGENIC: Programmable Organoid Intelligence Using Neuronal Networks Implemented by Gene Circuits," aims to create organ-like masses of cells (organoids) that can learn and adapt to environmental conditions like viral infections and toxins.
The project involves engineering liver cells to contain artificial neuronal networks that operate using DNA, RNA, and proteins. Microscale robots will facilitate communication with cells in the organoids to enable learning by modifying the neural circuit weights. The goal is to create an intelligent liver organoid that can sense and respond to its environment. The project also explores neuroethical issues, such as the potential for consciousness and sentience in the de novo neuronal network. MIT has planned sub-awards with the University of Delaware and the University of Maryland, College Park to support various components of the research.
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