Tuberous sclerosis (TS) is a genetic disorder that causes brain tumours in children due to overactivation of a growth pathway called mTORC1. These tumours can disrupt brain development, cause severe epilepsy, and lead to life-threatening complications. We aim to understand when and how tumour-driving cells first appear during early brain development. Using advanced human stem cell–derived mini-brain organoid models that mimic the earliest stages of the fetal brain, we will identify abnormal stem cell populations, track how they change over time, and map where they form within developing tissue. This work will reveal the earliest steps of tumour formation and guide new strategies to prevent or better treat TS brain tumours.
