As neuroscience research continues to seek more predictive and human-relevant model systems, BrainXell is expanding beyond individual cell types to develop integrated platforms that better capture the complexity of the human central nervous system.
Building on its portfolio of human iPSC-derived neurons, glia, microglia, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), disease models, and reporter lines, BrainXell is advancing a new generation of New Approach Methodology (NAM) platforms designed to support disease modeling, drug discovery, toxicity testing, and functional biology studies through modular, scalable, and increasingly sophisticated human cell systems.
From Cell Types to Connected Biology
For years, BrainXell has provided researchers with high-quality human CNS cell types that can be combined into customized co-culture and tri-culture systems. The next evolution of this approach focuses on creating more integrated model platforms that enable researchers to study how multiple cell types interact within controlled and physiologically relevant environments.
“Our vision is to move beyond isolated cell types and toward systems that more closely reflect the biology researchers are trying to understand,” said Dr. Su-Chun Zhang, Founder and Interim CEO of BrainXell. “By combining defined human cell populations in reproducible formats, we can create powerful tools for studying disease mechanisms and evaluating therapeutic candidates.”
A Modular Building-Block Approach Powered by Brain BloX
At the core of BrainXell’s NAM strategy is BrainBloX, a modular building-block approach that enables researchers to assemble human-relevant CNS models using defined combinations of neurons, astrocytes, microglia, OPCs, endothelial cells, disease lines, and reporter-enabled cell systems.
Rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all model, BrainBloX allows researchers to select the cell types, culture formats, and functional readouts that best align with their biological questions. Whether starting with a simple 2D assay or advancing to complex multicellular spheroids and myelinoids, BrainBloX provides a flexible framework for building increasingly sophisticated CNS models.
Current and emerging BrainBloX capabilities include:
- Human iPSC-derived neurons, astrocytes, microglia, OPCs, endothelial cells, and reporter lines
- 2D monoculture, co-culture, and tri-culture systems
- Functional assays including imaging, calcium imaging, cytokine analysis, MEA, qPCR, and viability readouts
- Advanced 3D spheroid systems
- Disease-specific and reporter-enabled models
By combining well-characterized cellular building blocks with scalable manufacturing and functional assay expertise, BrainBloX helps researchers move from individual cell types to integrated human CNS systems that better reflect the biology of neurological and psychiatric diseases.
Emerging 3D Platforms
Among the most exciting developments are BrainXell’s emerging 3D CNS model platforms, including neuron-astrocyte spheroids, tri-culture spheroids, and myelinoids.
Neuron and Neuron-Astrocyte Spheroids
These self-organizing 3D systems bring neurons and astrocytes together in a more physiologically relevant architecture than traditional monolayer cultures. By allowing cells to organize and communicate naturally, these models offer new opportunities to study neuronal maturation, network formation, and neuron-glia interactions.
Tri-Culture Spheroids
By incorporating neurons, astrocytes, and microglia into a single system, BrainXell is developing platforms that better capture relevant neuroimmunology. These models are expected to support studies of neuroinflammation, cell-cell communication, and disease-relevant CNS interactions while maintaining the experimental control needed for reproducible research.
Myelinoids
Myelinoids represent an important step forward for studying myelination and white matter biology. These 3D systems combine neurons, astrocytes, and BrainXell OPCs, enabling oligodendrocytes to mature and interact with axons in a biologically relevant environment.
According to BrainXell scientists, the self-organizing nature of these systems allows cells to establish more natural interactions than are possible in conventional 2D cultures. This makes myelinoids particularly attractive for investigating myelin formation, demyelination, remyelination, neurodegeneration, aging, and patient-derived disease models.
Human-Relevant Models with Practical Applications
A key focus of BrainXell’s NAM initiatives is balancing biological complexity with experimental accessibility.
As Dr. Zhang explains:
“We can culture neurons, astrocytes, and microglia together, or introduce oligodendrocytes to form myelin sheaths. By labeling these different cell types with reporters, we can generate clearer and more accessible functional readouts, particularly in 2D systems, which are often easier to perform and analyze.”
— Dr. Su-Chun Zhang, MD, PhD, BrainXell Founder & Interim CEO
This combination of controlled cellular composition and functional reporter technologies enables researchers to generate meaningful biological insights while maintaining workflows that are practical for screening and assay development.
Supporting the Future of Drug Discovery
BrainXell views these platforms not simply as novel biological models, but as tools designed to fit within modern drug discovery workflows.
The company’s NAM initiatives are focused on:
- Improving human relevance earlier in the discovery process
- Supporting reproducible and scalable experimental designs
- Enabling functional assessment across multiple CNS cell types
- Creating standardized platforms suitable for future screening applications
- Reducing reliance on less predictive model systems
As these programs mature, BrainXell aims to offer researchers multiple entry points—from ready-to-use assays and controlled custom studies to collaborative development of advanced 3D CNS platforms.
Looking Ahead
The future of CNS research increasingly depends on understanding how diverse neural cell types work together. BrainXell’s expanding NAM portfolio reflects that shift, bringing together human neurons, astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes in increasingly sophisticated systems that support both mechanistic discovery and translational research.
By combining scalable human cell production with modular model design and functional assay capabilities, BrainXell is helping researchers build better CNS models—and opening new possibilities for studying neurological disease with greater biological relevance than ever before.
Interested in learning more about BrainXell’s NAM initiatives including BrainBloX? Contact our scientific team to discuss assay services, custom model development, and upcoming 3D CNS platforms.