Growing brain cells from patient skin to study neurological diseases

Researchers are asking patients with neurological diseases—and healthy volunteers—to donate a small skin sample or a few hairs. Scientists will then reprogram these cells in the laboratory to become the types of brain cells affected by neurological disease. This allows them to study how disease develops and test potential new medicines without harming patients.

Most neurological diseases are difficult to study because scientists cannot easily access or test the brain cells involved. This research aims to create a new way to model these diseases in the laboratory so doctors can better understand what goes wrong and develop more effective treatments.