Progress in spinal cord organoid research: advancing understanding of neural development, disease modelling, and regenerative medicine.

Stem cell-derived spinal cord organoids (SCOs) have revolutionised the study of spinal cord development and disease mechanisms, offering a three-dimensional model that recapitulates the complexity of native tissue. This review synthesises recent advancements in SCO technology, highlighting their role in modelling spinal cord morphogenesis and their application in neurodegenerative disease research. We discuss the methodological breakthroughs in inducing regional specification and cellular diversity within SCOs, which have enhanced their predictive ability for drug screening and their relevance in mimicking pathological conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases and neuromuscular disorders. Despite these strides, challenges in achieving vascularisation and mature neuronal integration persist. The future of SCOs lies in addressing these limitations, potentially leading to transformative impactions in regenerative medicine and therapeutic development.