Using Stem Cells to Cure Autism, Epilepsy & Schizophrenia | Dr. Sergiu Pașca
My guest is Dr. Sergiu Pașca, MD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University.
August 18, 2025
2 hr 23 min
242
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328 of 417
Episode 242 · August 18, 2025
Using Stem Cells to Cure Autism, Epilepsy & Schizophrenia | Dr. Sergiu Pașca
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Using Stem Cells to Cure Autism, Epilepsy & Schizophrenia | Dr. Sergiu Pașca
Summary
My guest is Dr. Sergiu Pașca, MD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University. We discuss the biology and genetics of autism, why autism diagnoses are increasing and recent progress in using stem cells to understand and treat profound autism and other brain disorders. Dr. Pașca explains “organoids and assembloids”—human stem cell–derived tools he pioneered to study, treat and cure complex brain diseases. We also discuss ethical and safety issues with using gene editing and stem cells in humans.
Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com.
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Timestamps
(00:00) Sergiu Pașca
(02:08) Autism Spectrum Disorder, Incidence, Genetics
(07:16) Is Autism More Common in Males?
(09:35) Sponsors: David & Helix Sleep
(11:56) Eye Contact in Babies, Fever; Proposed Causes of Autism; Genes
(18:48) Genetic or Idiopathic Autism Diagnoses, Timothy Syndrome
(21:37) Rise in Autism Diagnoses
(26:46) Cause, Correlation & Neurological Disease; Schizophrenia, Do Vaccines Cause Autism?
(31:34) Global Increase in Autism; Gene Therapy, CRISPR, Follistatin
(41:05) Sponsors: AG1 & BetterHelp
(43:41) Stem Cells, Ethics, Yamanaka Factors, Human Stem Cell Models
(52:03) Umbilical Stem Cells; Stem Cell Injections & Dangers, Autistic Kids
(59:30) Organoids, Modeling Brain Development, Intrinsic Development Timer
(1:12:22) Assembloids, Brain Cell Migration & Circuit Formation, Self-Organization
(1:21:22) Four-Part Assembloid, Sensory Assembloid, Pain Conditions
(1:25:45) Sponsor: Function
(1:27:33) Future Medical Therapies, Cell Banking, Immortalize Tissues, Rejuvenate Cells
(1:34:56) Assembloids & Ethics, Importance of Nomenclature, Science Collaboration & Self-Correction
(1:45:38) Cell Transplantation & Ethics, Timing
(1:55:05) Genetic Testing for Parents, Genetic Penetrance
(2:02:36) Assembloids, Timothy Syndrome, Epilepsy, Schizophrenia, Dystonia
(2:14:30) Scientific Career, Walking, Art, Medical School
(2:20:44) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
Disclaimer & Disclosures
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