2.5.1. Foundational research
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2.5.1. Foundational research
Use the future to build the present
Foundational research
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1.1Advanced AI1.2QuantumRevolution1.3UnconventionalComputing1.4AugmentedReality1.5CollectiveIntelligence2.1CognitiveEnhancement2.2HumanApplicationsof GeneticEngineering2.3HealthspanExtension2.4ConsciousnessAugmentation2.5Organoids2.6FutureTherapeutics3.1Decarbonisation3.2EarthSystemsModelling3.3FutureFoodSystems3.4SpaceResources3.5OceanStewardship3.6SolarRadiationModification3.7InfectiousDiseases4.1Science-basedDiplomacy4.2Advancesin ScienceDiplomacy4.3Foresight,Prediction,and FuturesLiteracy4.4Democracy-affirmingTechnologies5.1ComplexSystemsScience5.2Futureof Education5.3Future Economics,Trade andGlobalisation5.4The Scienceof theOrigins of Life5.5SyntheticBiology
1.1Advanced AI1.2QuantumRevolution1.3UnconventionalComputing1.4AugmentedReality1.5CollectiveIntelligence2.1CognitiveEnhancement2.2HumanApplicationsof GeneticEngineering2.3HealthspanExtension2.4ConsciousnessAugmentation2.5Organoids2.6FutureTherapeutics3.1Decarbonisation3.2EarthSystemsModelling3.3FutureFoodSystems3.4SpaceResources3.5OceanStewardship3.6SolarRadiationModification3.7InfectiousDiseases4.1Science-basedDiplomacy4.2Advancesin ScienceDiplomacy4.3Foresight,Prediction,and FuturesLiteracy4.4Democracy-affirmingTechnologies5.1ComplexSystemsScience5.2Futureof Education5.3Future Economics,Trade andGlobalisation5.4The Scienceof theOrigins of Life5.5SyntheticBiology

Sub-Field:

2.5.1Foundational research

    The combination of genetic engineering and human organoids has created new opportunities for studies of human genetics. It has already revealed some of the secrets of how human brains uniquely diverged from other primates,13 including Neanderthals.14 Organoids are also being used to investigate novel viruses and emerging diseases.15

    Organoids make it possible to study diseases that cannot be exhaustively studied in animals, such as uniquely human neuropsychiatric or neurodevelopmental diseases that affect the whole genome (schizophrenia, for example).16 Brain organoids are already being used in the study of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's17 and neurological disorders such as epilepsy.18

    Organoids also promise to help us understand previously opaque processes in early foetal development. Many chronic diseases emerge during the first weeks of development (for example, cardiovascular disease) so understanding these pathways in a more transparent way is crucial for prevention. Embryoids could also help us understand why humans carry fewer pregnancies successfully to term than other animals, which could lead to improved fertility enhancers and contraceptives.

    Future Horizons:

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    5-yearhorizon

    Models and answers become increasingly complex

    Merging organoid and organ-on-chip technologies — the latter being a microfluidic chip that mimics the physiological behaviour of an organ^19 — allows the study of inter-organ interactions. Large database(s) are developed covering many types of organoids and available data on proteomics. This leads to increased understanding of how perturbations resulting from medicines or genes affect physiology.

    10-yearhorizon

    Predictive models have proven efficacy

    Several countries will have organoid banks the way cell and tissue banks exist today, used by academia and industry to understand diseases and their variability across different individuals. We increasingly understand the developmental processes involved with morphogenesis for complex structures. An understanding of the biochemical pathways of ageing allow us to rapidly age a brain organoid to study Alzheimer's disease. Animal and human embryoids are grown in a dish: humans for the first few weeks of development, animal models until organogenesis and further. Finally, the combination of paleogenomics, genome editing and organoid technology leads to novel insights on human evolution.

    25-yearhorizon

    Whole human on a chip appears

    Given the ability to link several organoids and systems together, we find molecules that enhance reproductive health, prevent pregnancy loss, and enhance foetal health. Better understanding of human development leads to new insights into how to augment foetal health and prevent diseases.

    Foundational research - Anticipation Scores

    How the experts see this field in terms of the expected time to maturity, transformational effect across science and industries, current state of awareness among stakeholders and its possible impact on people, society and the planet. See methodology for more information.

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    How we’ll transplant tiny organ-like blobs of cells into people

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    23rd Sep 2022
    Miniature organoids are being implanted into animals. Humans are next.