First Organoid Intelligence (OI) workshop to form an OI community

Itzy E Morales Pantoja¹, Lena Smirnova¹, Alysson R Muotri^{2

3}, Karl J Wahlin⁴, Jeffrey Kahn⁵, J Lomax Boyd⁵, David H Gracias^{6

7

8

9

10

11}, Timothy D Harris^{12

13}, Tzahi Cohen-Karni^{14

15}, Brian S Caffo¹⁶, Alexander S Szalay^{17

18

19}, Fang Han²⁰, Donald J Zack^{21

22

23

24}, Ralph Etienne-Cummings²⁵, Akwasi Akwaboah²⁵, July Carolina Romero¹, Dowlette-Mary Alam El Din¹, Jesse D Plotkin¹, Barton L Paulhamus²⁶, Erik C Johnson²⁶, Frederic Gilbert²⁷, J Lowry Curley²⁸, Ben Cappiello²⁸, Jens C Schwamborn²⁹, Eric J Hill³⁰, Paul Roach³¹, Daniel Tornero^{32

33}, Caroline Krall^{1

34}, Rheinallt Parri³⁵, Fenna Sillé¹, Andre Levchenko³⁶, Rabih E Jabbour³⁷, Brett J Kagan³⁸, Cynthia A Berlinicke²¹, Qi Huang⁶, Alexandra Maertens¹, Kathrin Herrmann¹, Katya Tsaioun¹, Raha Dastgheyb³⁹, Christa Whelan Habela³⁹, Joshua T Vogelstein¹², Thomas Hartung^{1

40}

Affiliations

¹ Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health and Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
² Department of Pediatrics and Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States.
³ Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (CARTA), Archealization Center (ArchC), Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States.
⁴ Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology & the Shiley Eye Institute, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.
⁵ Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
⁶ Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
⁷ Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
⁸ Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
⁹ Laboratory for Computational Sensing and Robotics (LCSR), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
¹⁰ Center for Microphysiological Systems (MPS), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
¹¹ Oncology and Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
¹² Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
¹³ Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, United States.
¹⁴ Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
¹⁵ Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
¹⁶ Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
¹⁷ Department of Computer Science, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
¹⁸ Department of Physics and Astronomy, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
¹⁹ Mark Foundation Center for Advanced Genomics and Imaging, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
²⁰ Department of Statistics and Economics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.
²¹ Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
²² Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
²³ Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
²⁴ Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
²⁵ Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
²⁶ Department of Research and Exploratory Development, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, United States.
²⁷ Philosophy Program, School of Humanities, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
²⁸ AxoSim Inc., New Orleans, LA, United States.
²⁹ Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
³⁰ School of Biosciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
³¹ Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, United Kingdom.
³² Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
³³ Clinic Hospital August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
³⁴ Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
³⁵ Aston Pharmacy School, College of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
³⁶ Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States.
³⁷ Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, University of Maryland Global Campus, Rockville, MD, United States.
³⁸ Cortical Labs, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
³⁹ Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
⁴⁰ Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT)-Europe, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.

PMID: 36925616
PMCID: PMC10013972
DOI: 10.3389/frai.2023.1116870

Review

First Organoid Intelligence (OI) workshop to form an OI community

Itzy E Morales Pantoja et al. Front Artif Intell. 2023.

. 2023 Feb 28:6:1116870.

doi: 10.3389/frai.2023.1116870. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health and Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
² Department of Pediatrics and Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States.
³ Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (CARTA), Archealization Center (ArchC), Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States.
⁴ Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology & the Shiley Eye Institute, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.
⁵ Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
⁶ Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
⁷ Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
⁸ Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
⁹ Laboratory for Computational Sensing and Robotics (LCSR), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
¹⁰ Center for Microphysiological Systems (MPS), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
¹¹ Oncology and Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
¹² Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
¹³ Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, United States.
¹⁴ Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
¹⁵ Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
¹⁶ Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
¹⁷ Department of Computer Science, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
¹⁸ Department of Physics and Astronomy, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
¹⁹ Mark Foundation Center for Advanced Genomics and Imaging, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
²⁰ Department of Statistics and Economics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.
²¹ Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
²² Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
²³ Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
²⁴ Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
²⁵ Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
²⁶ Department of Research and Exploratory Development, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, United States.
²⁷ Philosophy Program, School of Humanities, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
²⁸ AxoSim Inc., New Orleans, LA, United States.
²⁹ Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
³⁰ School of Biosciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
³¹ Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, United Kingdom.
³² Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
³³ Clinic Hospital August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
³⁴ Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
³⁵ Aston Pharmacy School, College of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
³⁶ Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States.
³⁷ Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, University of Maryland Global Campus, Rockville, MD, United States.
³⁸ Cortical Labs, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
³⁹ Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
⁴⁰ Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT)-Europe, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.

PMID: 36925616
PMCID: PMC10013972
DOI: 10.3389/frai.2023.1116870

Abstract

The brain is arguably the most powerful computation system known. It is extremely efficient in processing large amounts of information and can discern signals from noise, adapt, and filter faulty information all while running on only 20 watts of power. The human brain's processing efficiency, progressive learning, and plasticity are unmatched by any computer system. Recent advances in stem cell technology have elevated the field of cell culture to higher levels of complexity, such as the development of three-dimensional (3D) brain organoids that recapitulate human brain functionality better than traditional monolayer cell systems. Organoid Intelligence (OI) aims to harness the innate biological capabilities of brain organoids for biocomputing and synthetic intelligence by interfacing them with computer technology. With the latest strides in stem cell technology, bioengineering, and machine learning, we can explore the ability of brain organoids to compute, and store given information (input), execute a task (output), and study how this affects the structural and functional connections in the organoids themselves. Furthermore, understanding how learning generates and changes patterns of connectivity in organoids can shed light on the early stages of cognition in the human brain. Investigating and understanding these concepts is an enormous, multidisciplinary endeavor that necessitates the engagement of both the scientific community and the public. Thus, on Feb 22-24 of 2022, the Johns Hopkins University held the first Organoid Intelligence Workshop to form an OI Community and to lay out the groundwork for the establishment of OI as a new scientific discipline. The potential of OI to revolutionize computing, neurological research, and drug development was discussed, along with a vision and roadmap for its development over the coming decade.

Keywords: Organoid Intelligence; artificial intelligence; biological computing; brain; cognition; electrophysiology; microphysiological systems.

Copyright © 2023 Morales Pantoja, Smirnova, Muotri, Wahlin, Kahn, Boyd, Gracias, Harris, Cohen-Karni, Caffo, Szalay, Han, Zack, Etienne-Cummings, Akwaboah, Romero, Alam El Din, Plotkin, Paulhamus, Johnson, Gilbert, Curley, Cappiello, Schwamborn, Hill, Roach, Tornero, Krall, Parri, Sillé, Levchenko, Jabbour, Kagan, Berlinicke, Huang, Maertens, Herrmann, Tsaioun, Dastgheyb, Habela, Vogelstein and Hartung.

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Conflict of interest statement

TH is employed by, and inventor on a patent by Johns Hopkins University on the production of brain organoids, which is licensed to AxoSim, New Orleans, LA, USA, and receives royalty shares. TH also consults to AxoSim. LS is employed by Johns Hopkins University and consults to AxoSim, New Orleans, LA, USA. JS is employed by, and inventor on a patent by the University of Luxembourg on the production of midbrain organoids, which is licensed to OrganoTherapeutics SARL, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg. JLC and BC were employed by AxoSim Inc., New Orleans, LA, United States. JS is also co-founder and shareholder of OrganoTherapeutics SARL. AM is employed by the University of California, San Diego and is co-founder and has equity interest in TISMOO, a company dedicated to genetic analysis and human brain organogenesis, focusing on therapeutic applications customized for autism spectrum disorders and other neurological disorders origin genetics. The terms of this arrangement have been reviewed and approved by the University of California, San Diego, in accordance with its conflict of interest policies. BK is employed by Cortical Labs Pty Ltd., Melbourne, Australia, and is an inventor on patents for technology related this paper and holds shares in Cortical Labs Pty Ltd., Melbourne, Australia. No specific funding or other incentives were provided for involvement in this publication. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

**Figure 1**
Brain organoids as a model to study human biology in health and disease.

**Figure 3**
3D Organoid Interfacing. **(A)** MEA sandwich configuration–two MEAs assigned input and output respectively impinge the two organoid hemispheres. **(B)** Organoid well approach suitable for non-invasive interfacing such as TISIT.

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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First Organoid Intelligence (OI) workshop to form an OI community

Affiliations

First Organoid Intelligence (OI) workshop to form an OI community

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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