CNS×3 Research Center

About Us

CNS×3 – Centre for Person-Centred Brain Models and Therapies is a national research centre dedicated to improving how we model and treat brain diseases. Funded by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF), the centre brings together leading expertise in biotechnology, neuroscience, data science, and clinical research.

At the core of CNS×3 is the development of advanced, vascularized brain organoids – miniature 3D brain models grown from human stem cells and embedded in microfluidic chips. These models closely replicate the structure and function of human brain tissue and are used to investigate complex neurological diseases such as glioblastoma, paediatric brain tumours, and cerebral vascular malformations.

By combining patient-derived samples from national biobanks with real-time imaging and AI-driven analytics, CNS×3 enables researchers to explore personalised treatment strategies. Our aim is not only to identify which treatments work, but also to optimise when and how they are delivered – paving the way for more effective, patient-specific care.

The centre also runs a national research school offering training in organoid technologies, microfluidics, computational methods, and research ethics. Collaboration with healthcare providers, patient organisations, and industry is central to ensuring that the knowledge and tools we develop are translated into real-world impact.

CNS×3 is coordinated by Uppsala University and includes eight academic institutions and two industry partners. The centre maintains a broad network of affiliated researchers across Sweden. Learn more at www.cnsx3.se.

Scientific Director: Sven Nelander | Managing Director: Peetra Magnusson

Our Research

CNS×3 brings together biology, engineering, and data science to create new tools for understanding and treating central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Our research is structured around three integrated focus areas, each addressing a key challenge in the development of effective, personalised therapies for the brain.

Key Focus Areas

Organoid-on-Chip Technology: We design and produce vascularized brain organoids – lab-grown models of human brain tissue – embedded in microfluidic chips. These models mimic the cellular complexity and microenvironment of different brain regions and are used to study disease progression and treatment effects under dynamic, physiologically relevant conditions.
Therapeutic Discovery from Biobank Samples: By integrating tumour and tissue samples from national biobanks, we develop personalised disease models to explore treatments for glioblastoma, paediatric brain tumours, and cerebrovascular malformations. Our platform enables high-throughput screening of small molecules, biologicals, and antisense oligonucleotides, with real-time evaluation of treatment response.
AI-Guided Treatment Strategies: We use machine learning and advanced statistics to identify and test personalised, time-dependent treatment regimens. Our approach allows us to explore not only which drugs work, but how sequences and timing influence therapeutic success, helping to uncover new ways to control disease with greater precision.

Meet the Team

Principal Investigators

Sven Nelander, Ph.D. – Professor of Cancer Systems Biology, Uppsala University. Scientific Director, CNSx3.
Peetra Magnusson, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Uppsala University. Managing Director, CNSx3. Director, Research School DDLS.
Maria Tenje, Ph.D. – Professor of Microsystem Technology, Uppsala University.
Daniel Aili, Ph.D. – Professor of Biomaterials, Linköping University.
Fredrik Swartling, Ph.D. – Senior Lecturer of Pediatric Brain Tumor Biology, Uppsala University.
Rebecka Jörnsten, Ph.D. – Professor of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, University of Gothenburg.
Niklas Dahl, M.D., Ph.D. – Professor of Clinical Genetics, Uppsala University Hospital.
Philip Gerlee, Ph.D. – Professor of Biomathematics, Chalmers University of Technology.

Affiliated Investigators

Wojciech Michno, Ph.D. – Assistant Senior Lecturer and SciLifeLab Fellow, Uppsala University.
Anna Falk, Ph.D. – Professor, Neural Stem Cells, Karolinska Institutet. PI, StemTherapy: National Initiative on Stem Cells for Regenerative Therapy.
Mats Nilsson, Ph.D. – Professor of Biochemistry, Stockholm University.
Karin Forsberg-Nilsson, Ph.D. – Professor of Stem Cell Research, Uppsala University.
Finn Hallböök, Ph.D. – Professor of Developmental Neurobiology, Uppsala University.

Governing Board

Hillevi Englund, Ph.D. - UU Innovation, Chair
Jana Bergholz, Ph.D. - Patient Representative, CASE (Cavernöst Angiom Sverige)
Agata Zeba Wicher, Ph.D. - Chief Product and Science Officer, Navinci Diagnostics
Elisabet Sjöström, Ph.D. - CEO, Key2Brain AB
Bettina Ryll, Ph.D. - Melanoma Patient Network Europe
Sven Nelander, Ph.D. - Professor, Uppsala University
Daniel Aili, Ph.D. - Professor, Linköping University
Peetra Magnusson, Ph.D. - Associate Professor, Uppsala University

Scientific Advisory Board

Simon Tavaré, Ph.D. - Founding Director, Irving Institute for Cancer Dynamics, Columbia University
Mimi Bandopadhayay, M.D., Ph.D. - Director, Dana Farber Cancer Institute Low-Grade Glioma Program; Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School and Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Nilsson Gauthier, Ph.D. - Associate Professor of Mechano-Oncology, IFOM Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan
Kristina Haase, Ph.D. - Research Group Leader, Tissue Biology and Disease Modeling, EMBL Barcelona

Get Involved

CNS×3 is hiring! We are looking for Ph.D. students, research assistants, and postdocs. Information will be available here soon. You may also want to contact us at info@cnsx3.se for further details.

Partner with Us

We welcome collaboration inquiries from academic institutions, industry partners, and other research centers. For collaboration inquiries, please contact us.