Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) awarded The Johns Hopkins University a Project Grant totaling $427,563 (Award Date: June 17, 2026; Completion Date: May 31, 2028) under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders program (CFDA 93.853). The research project focuses on developing and validating Multi-Modal Micro Electrode Fluidic Array (MEFA) shells—advanced 3D micro-instrumentation designed to enable simultaneous electrical recording and biochemical control of brain organoids derived from human stem cells. This technology addresses a critical gap in neuroscience research by providing high spatiotemporal resolution measurement capabilities from entire organoid surfaces, offering significant advantages over conventional planar microelectrode arrays that can only access limited portions of organoid tissue.

The MEFA shell system builds upon previously demonstrated 3D microelectrode array technology modeled on miniaturized electroencephalography (EEG) caps, utilizing self-folding polymer shells with lithographically patterned, chip-integrated electrodes. The research deliverables include development of enhanced MEFA shells with multi-modal capabilities, validation of their application for electrical and chemical interrogation of brain organoids, and demonstration of the system's tunability, scalability, and mass-producibility. This advancement is expected to facilitate more accurate investigation of brain development and disease mechanisms in physiologically representative 3D environments, bridging the methodological limitations inherent in traditional monolayer cell culture and animal model research approaches.