The ROMB (Retina Organoid Mechanobiology) project aims to develop a biophysical model for the human retina in order to study neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, outside the human body. The project utilizes three-dimensional cell ensembles called retina organoids, which are grown from stem cells capable of differentiating into various cell types found in the retina.
The objectives of the ROMB project can be summarized as follows:
1. Establishing a comprehensive and reliable biophysical model for the retina: The primary objective is to overcome the limitations of current retina organoid research, such as uncontrolled variations in cell and tissue organization. By understanding the mechanical signals that guide organoid growth and quantifying the mechanical properties of the retina, the project aims to engineer a more reproducible cellular mechanical niche within the organoids. This will help in better understanding how mechanical forces influence cellular behavior and guide the development and function of the retina. Ferrofluid droplets are used as mechanical actuators to measure retina mechanics.
2. Studying Alzheimer's disease in vitro: The ROMB project evaluates the feasibility of using retina organoids to study neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease. By growing retina organoids with cells carrying specific mutations associated with Alzheimer's disease, the project aims to gain insights into the mechanisms, including the mechanical aspects, of the disease. This approach can potentially be used to test therapeutic interventions.
3. Recording 3D neuronal function using lightsheet microscopy: The third objective of the ROMB project is to record the 3D neuronal function within retina organoids, which is still an unsolved problem in the field. To achieve this, a custom-developed lightsheet microscopy technique is employed. This microscopy technique enables the quantification of electrical functionality within the organoids and allows for the relationship between neuronal function and the mechanical properties of the retina to be explored.
By achieving these objectives, the ROMB project aims to contribute to an improved understanding of the biophysical properties of the retina, as well as the development of new diagnostic techniques, treatment strategies, and potential preventive measures for neurodegenerative diseases affecting the central nervous system, such as Alzheimer's disease.
