High-throughput organoid platform for electrophysiology studies (hopes)

The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences awarded CFD Research Corporation $349,752 on August 17, 2026, under NCATS' translational science grant program (CFDA 93.350, NCATS program). The award funds development of the High-Throughput Organoid Platform for Electrophysiology Studies (HOPES)—an integrated, automated system for growing, maintaining, and screening brain organoids at high throughput using multi-electrode array (MEA) technology embedded in a microphysiological system chip. The Phase I effort will develop MEA recording systems on chips, demonstrate the system with commercial multi-well MEA plates, and develop a microphysiological systems cartridge that interfaces to 3D MEAs while supporting co-culture of organoids and endothelial cells with vascularized flow. The platform targets 96 organoids per cartridge with integrated signal amplification and processing for low-noise electrophysiological detection. CFD Research partners with Dr. Patrick Mercier at the University of California, San Diego, who provides microelectronics expertise for on-chip amplification and signal processing. Performance occurs in Huntsville, Alabama, with a period of performance from August 17, 2026 through August 16, 2027. NCATS' program aims to reduce bottlenecks in translational research and accelerate delivery of new diagnostics and therapeutics to patients.

Abstract

Organoids provide cutting edge representations of human organs that are an invaluable tool for studying complex disease and drug interactions with improved in vivo correlation. Despite their promise, high throughput compatible culture and assay of organoids remains challenging. As the most advanced organoid platform, brain organoids represent the human brain and provide promise for investigation of diseases such as alzheimer's disease and parkinson's disease, among others. Further, neurotoxins represent serious environmental contaminants and military threats. CFD research has developed a microphysiological system (MPS) that utilizes cortical organoids as an agnostic, environmental hazard sensors. We propose to adapt this system into an integrated, automated platform for the growth and maturation of organoids, and for high throughput screening. Our overarching goal (at the end of phase II) is to manufacture and demonstrate an integrated, high-throughput organoid platform for electrophysiology studies (hopes). The hopes platform will contain a high density, extremely low-noise multi-well 3D MEA integrated into a MPS chip for automated growth, maintenance, and interrogation of 96 organoids with vascularized flow. To enable this approach, we have partnered with DR. Patrick mercier at the university of california, SAN diego (ucsd), an expert in microelectronics to integrate amplification and signal processing directly into the hopes cartridge for extremely low noise, low power detection of electrophysiological activity. During the phase i effort we will develop the MEA recording system on chips, demonstrate the developed system on chip with commercial multi-well MEA plates. Further, we will develop the MPS cartridge that will interface to multiplexed, 3D meas (phase II) and demonstrate the formation of flow paths for CO-culture of organoids and endothelial. To accomplish this challenging project, we have assembled a team with expertise in all aspects of the proposed work: microphysiological systems/organs on a chip, system automation and integration (DRS. Roehm, and german; CFD research), microelectronics and neurological recording systems (DR. Patrick mercier; university of california SAN diego). Upon successful completion of the phase i effort, phase II will focus on integrating the phase i proof of concept device and on-chip signal processing (reduced data transfer requirements) into an integrated prototype containing a multi-well 3D MEA directly connected to the recording system designed in this work through glass vias to create the integrated hopes system. Overall, the hopes will provide value to pharmaceutical companies seeking cures to diseases, as well as medical countermeasures for both civilian and military threats.