A new study, including Cluster Doctoral Researchers Lizia Branco and Daria Andreeva, Postdoctoral Researcher Federico Colombo, and Principal Investigators Christine Selhuber-Unkel and Simone Mayer, explores how the antiepileptic drug valproate (VPA) affects early human brain development. The researchers used stem cell–derived organoid models for their analysis. Through a combination of gene, cell, and protein analyses, the research team demonstrated that VPA disrupts the organization of early brain tissue, reduces the growth of neural precursor cells, and alters their maturation over time. These findings provide important insights into why prenatal exposure to VPA is associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder. Overall, this research highlights the value of human organoid systems for understanding brain development and developing safer therapies.
© Yentür et al., Molecular Psychiatry (2026), CC BY 4.0