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. Episode show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/rljiUj3 *Thank you to our sponsors* AG1: ⁠https://drinkag1.com/huberman⁠ David: ⁠https://davidprotein.com/huberman⁠ Helix: ⁠https://helixsleep.com/huberman⁠ BetterHelp: ⁠https://betterhelp.com/huberman⁠ Function: ⁠https://functionhealth.com/huberman⁠ *Follow Huberman Lab* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab Threads: https://www.threads.net/@hubermanlab X: https://twitter.com/hubermanlab Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hubermanlab TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hubermanlab LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-huberman Website: https://www.hubermanlab.com Newsletter: https://www.hubermanlab.com/newsletter *Dr. Sergiu Pasca* Stanford academic profile: https://profiles.stanford.edu/sergiu-pasca Lab website: https://med.stanford.edu/pascalab.html TED talk: https://youtu.be/ABmRCdnVq3E?si=7_ST7beDu7eFMrPH Stanford Brain Organogenesis: http://www.brainorganogenesis.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sergiu.p.pasca Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sergiuppasca.bsky.social X: https://x.com/Sergiu_P_Pasca LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergiu-p-pașca-32891629 *Timestamps* Disclaimer & Disclosures: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer