Alysson Muotri: Modeling the human brain with stem cells and organoids, from disease paradigms to neanderthoids, space brains, and beyond

Dr. Alysson Muotri is a Professor at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), holding appointments in both the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine. His leadership extends across several cutting-edge research initiatives at UCSD, where he serves as Director of the Sanford Stem Cell Education program, the Integrated Space Stem Cell Orbital Research (ISSCOR) center, the Archealization Center (ArchC), and the Gene Therapy Initiative, as well as Associate Director of the Center for Academic Research & Training in Anthropogeny (CARTA). Dr. Muotri's academic journey began in Brazil, where he earned a BSc in Biological Sciences from the State University of Campinas (Unicamp) in 1995 and a Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of São Paulo in 2001. He then moved to the Salk Institute in 2002 as a Pew Latin America Fellow for postdoctoral training in neuroscience and stem cell biology. At the forefront of neuroscience research, Dr. Muotri's work focuses on brain evolution and the modeling of neurological diseases, employing cutting-edge techniques such as human-induced pluripotent stem cells and brain organoids. We are honored to feature Dr. Muotri in the Genomic Press Interview series, offering our readers a unique opportunity to gain insights into both his personal journey and professional achievements. His contributions to the field of neuroscience and stem cell research continue to shape our understanding of brain development and disease, making his perspectives invaluable to the scientific community and beyond.