Short CV
Bruno Sterlini received his PhD in Biotechnology from the University of Genoa, Italy, in 2014. He subsequently worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Genoa in the Neurophysiology Lab of Prof. Fabio Benfenati, focusing on genetic epilepsy disorders. During this period, he spent nearly two years as a visiting scientist at the Weizmann Institute of Science, in the laboratory of Prof. Orly Reiner, where he worked on projects related to cerebral organoids. Since 2022, he has been an RTDA at the University of Genoa. His research is centered on the development and application of 2D and 3D human brain models, including iGluNeurons and cerebral organoids, to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neurological diseases.
Title of the talk
Advances in Human Brain Modeling: 2D and 3D Platforms for the Study of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Abstract
In this talk, Bruno Sterlini will present recent advances in human brain modeling using 2D and 3D systems to study neurodevelopmental disorders. The presentation will introduce human brain models as complementary tools to animal models, highlighting both their strengths and limitations in recapitulating human neural tissue. It will then discuss the development and optimization of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived glutamatergic neurons through Neurogenin-2 overexpression, including strategies to improve standardization and reduce variability, as well as the use of electrophysiological and proteomic approaches to define optimal culture conditions. Furthermore, the application of these models to investigate PRRT2-related disorders and to screen potential therapeutic compounds targeting sodium channel activity will be presented. Finally, the talk will highlight the development of advanced 3D hippocampal organoids using an air–liquid interface culture system, which overcome key limitations of traditional organoids by preventing necrotic core formation and enabling long-term functional network activity, offering new perspectives for disease modeling and therapeutic discovery.