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Protocol for quality control screening of brain organoid morphology
Ilaria Chiaradia1, Jerome Boulanger1, Sofie Blomberg Elmkvist2
1MRC LMB, CB2 0QH Cambridge, UK.
STAR Protocols
|March 21, 2026
Summary
We developed a fast, protocol-agnostic method to assess brain organoid quality using image analysis. This pipeline screens organoid morphology for consistent development and reliable research outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Neural organoids are valuable models for studying brain development and disease.
- Variability in neural organoid shape and identity poses challenges for consistent research.
- Standardized quality control is crucial for reliable organoid studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a rapid, protocol-agnostic pipeline for quality control screening of brain organoids.
- To enable objective assessment of organoid gross morphology.
- To facilitate unbiased selection of organoids for downstream experiments.
Main Methods:
- Semi-automated image analysis of 2D bright-field images.
- Quantification of organoid size, shape, and texture.
- Development of a reference dataset for complex brain organoid morphology.
- K-means clustering for unbiased sample selection.
Main Results:
- The pipeline enables rapid quality control screening of brain organoids.
- Morphological features (size, shape, texture) are effectively analyzed.
- Unbiased sample selection is achieved through k-means clustering.
- The method is applicable across different organoid protocols.
Conclusions:
- This image analysis pipeline provides a robust and efficient method for brain organoid quality control.
- It supports standardization and reproducibility in organoid research.
- The protocol-agnostic nature ensures broad applicability in neuroscience research.
