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ForwardMay 28, 2026: BWH Resident Award - From Organoids to Trials: Modeling Treatment Response in Neuropsychiatric Disorders
From Organoids to Trials: Modeling Treatment Response in Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Description:
This talk will examine how patient-derived cerebral organoids can be used to model neuropsychiatric disease and evaluate therapeutic response in a human genetic context. The lecture will introduce the generation of cerebral organoids from easily accessible patient samples and present a proof-of-concept study using organoids derived from individuals with a rare neurodevelopmental disorder (Jordan’s syndrome), a genetically defined condition associated with developmental and neurobehavioral impairment. Using patient-derived and CRISPR-corrected organoids in conjunction with an ongoing clinical trial, the session will discuss how drug treatment with the neurotrophic agent produces measurable changes in electrophysiological network activity and highlight the potential of organoid systems to bridge preclinical and clinical therapeutic development (Hong et al., 2023; Dixon & Muotri, 2023; Villanueva, 2023).
This lecture addresses important practice gaps in translational neuropsychiatry and therapeutic development. Clinicians and researchers currently have limited tools for modeling individualized treatment responses in human neural tissue, contributing to challenges in predicting therapeutic efficacy and translating preclinical findings into effective neuropsychiatric treatments. By reviewing the development and application of cerebral organoids within a clinically integrated research framework, this session will improve participant competence in understanding emerging precision psychiatry approaches and identifying ways organoid platforms may be incorporated into future preclinical studies and clinical trial design to improve therapeutic development and patient outcomes (Marx, 2020; Rouleau et al., 2023).
Target Audience
This program is intended for Psychiatrists, Psychologists, General and Family Practice Physicians, Psychiatric Nurses, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, and Social Workers.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the activity, participants will be able to:
- Describe broadly what human cerebral organoids are and how they are made.
- Explain how human cerebral organoids were used in a proof-of-concept study alongside a clinical trial.
- Identify ways that human cerebral organoids can be incorporated into clinical trial design and/or preclinical studies.
SPEAKER(S)
Leela Chakravarti Dilley, MD, PhD
Resident in Psychiatry at Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Leela Chakravarti Dilley, MD, PhD
Leela Chakravarti Dilley is a physician-scientist aiming to leverage training in clinical psychiatry, neurology, and molecular neuroscience to develop novel treatments for neuropsychiatric disease. She completed her MD–PhD at the University of Pennsylvania, where her thesis work identified the first known gene involved in regulating the juvenile sleep state. She subsequently completed two years of neurology residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, followed by psychiatry residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where she has served as Chief Resident of Research. Her research includes basic and clinical approaches to therapeutic development, incorporating the use of patient-derived cerebral organoids to model treatment response alongside clinical trials, as well as work on early-phase studies in neurocognitive disease. She plans to pursue a career developing and translating new therapies for neuropsychiatric illness.
Disclosures:
Available Credit
- 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of IHP and Massachusetts General Hospital. IHP is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
IHP designates this Enduring activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
- 1.00 Nursing Contact Hours
Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 13, sections 13, 14, 14A, 15 and 15D and Chapter 112, sections 74 through 81C authorize the Board of Registration in Nursing to regulate nursing practice and education.
This program meets the requirements of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (244 CMR 5.00) for 1.00 contact hours of nursing continuing education credit. Advance practice nurses, please note: Educational activities which meet the requirements of the ACCME (such as this activity) count towards 50% of the nursing requirement for ANCC accreditation.
- 1.00 Social Workers
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the MGH Institute of Health Professions is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. MGH Institute of Health Professions maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 1.00 clock hours for continuing education credits.
- 1.00 Participation
This course allows other providers to claim a Participation Certificate upon successful completion of this course.
Participation Certificates will specify the title, location, type of activity, date of activity, and number of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ associated with the activity. Providers should check with their regulatory agencies to determine ways in which AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ may or may not fulfill continuing education requirements. Providers should also consider saving copies of brochures, agenda, and other supporting documents.
- 1.00 Psychologists CE Credit
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. MGH Institute of Health Professions designates this activity for 1.00 CE credit.
Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, MGH Institute of Health Professions is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
1.0 Physicians
MGH Institute of Health Professions designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in this activity.
1.0 Physician Associates/Assistants
AAPA Credit Designation Statement – Live
MGH Institute of Health Professions has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1.0 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
AAPA Credit Designation Statement – Enduring Materials
MGH Institute of Health Professions has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1.0 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. Approval is valid until {Expiration Date). PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
1.0 Nursing
MGH Institute of Health Professions designates this activity for 1.0 contact hours for nurses. The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.
1.0 Pharmacists
This activity provides 1.0 contact hours of continuing education credit.
NOTE FOR PHARMACISTS: Upon closing of the electronic evaluation, IHP will upload the pharmacy-related continuing education information to the CPE Monitor within 60 days. Per ACPE rules, IHP does not have access nor the ability to upload credits requested after the evaluation closes. It is the responsibility of the pharmacist or pharmacy technician to provide the correct information [NABP ePID and DOB (in MMDD format)] in order to receive credit for participating in a CE activity.
1.0 Psychologists:
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. MGH Institute of Health Professions designates this activity for 1.0 CE credit.
1.0 Social Workers
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, MGH Institute of Health Professions is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. MGH Institute of Health Professions maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 clock hours for continuing education credits.
1.0 IPCE Credit
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 1.0 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.