Value proposition

we aim to develop new therapeutics for the treatment of brain disorders based on human cerebral organoids

a:head’s drug discovery approach is based on human cerebral organoids, a revolutionary, paradigm-shifting new technology that allows the generation of mini brains from human stem cells in vitro. They capture the essential aspects of human embryonic brain development including brain patterning, formation of brain ventricles, differentiation into the various neuronal and supportive cell types and their correct three-dimensional arrangement.

The technology has been pioneered by the company’s co-founders Madeline Lancaster and Juergen Knoblich and is exclusively licensed to a:head by the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria.

a:head applies these complex 3D tissue cultures for modelling of various brain disorders in a human context and aims at translating the technology into a powerful high content, high throughput phenotyping platform for the development of novel CNS therapeutics.