Founded by Dr. Annie Kathuria, the Maryland-based startup is developing a platform that combines advanced brain organoids with artificial intelligence to improve how therapies for neurological and psychiatric disorders are discovered.
Organotics has officially launched with a mission to transform neurological drug discovery through a combination of advanced multi-region human brain organoids, artificial intelligence (AI), and computational genomics. By generating high-quality biological data, the company aims to enable better target discovery, more predictive preclinical testing, and ultimately help bring effective therapies to patients faster.
Where the Idea for Organotics Began
For founder Dr. Annie Kathuria, the idea behind Organotics was shaped by nearly a decade of working with brain organoids and in the neuropsychiatric space. Throughout her research, she saw firsthand the challenges patients face with disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, PTSD, and Alzheimer’s disease.
“I always thought, why can’t we make it personalized to patients?” Kathuria said during an interview with BioBuzz. “Why does a patient have to go through 15 different drugs before finding one that works?”
That question became the driving force behind Organotics. Kathuria believes that while animal models have played an important role in biomedical research, they have not been sufficiently predictive for many neurological disorders. As a result, many potential therapies fail during development, leaving patients with limited treatment options.
Advancing Drug Discovery with Human Brain Organoids and AI
Organotics is working to address that challenge through a platform built on advanced human brain organoids. The company combines these biological models with an AI layer capable of analyzing how a drug influences neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, synaptic plasticity, neural development, and cellular stress. Organotics refers to this analysis as its Neural Impact Score, providing researchers with a comprehensive assessment of how a therapy performs across multiple biological pathways.
Dr. Kathuria also noted that the current scientific landscape presents an important opportunity for technologies like Organotics. With the FDA and NIH announcing efforts to move toward more human-relevant research models, she believes platforms that generate predictive human biology data will play an increasingly important role in neurological drug development.
The Future Ahead: Funding, Partnerships, and Maryland Expansion
Looking ahead, the company’s immediate priorities include fundraising, expanding the number of drugs tested on its platform, and continuing to strengthen its AI capabilities. Organotics is also advancing research focused on Alzheimer’s disease, particularly in women, who represent the majority of Alzheimer’s patients—as well as developing therapies for specific populations of schizophrenia patients.
As a Johns Hopkins spinout, Organotics plans to establish and grow its presence in Maryland while creating opportunities for local talent, particularly in AI scientist and research technician roles. The company also hopes to build partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, and government organizations across the BioHealth Capital Region, leveraging the region’s growing life sciences ecosystem.
Looking ahead, Kathuria hopes Organotics will become a trusted platform for neurological drug discovery, one that researchers routinely rely on when evaluating new therapies. “We want researchers to say, ‘We tested it using Organotics,’” she said, describing her vision of making the platform a recognized standard in the field.
With its official launch, Organotics joins the growing community of life science innovators across Maryland working to advance the future of medicine through the convergence of biology, artificial intelligence, and translational research.
