Ask the Experts: 3D Cell Culture and Assays

3D culture experts from Corning and Promega answer questions about common methods to form 3D structures, and factors to consider when evaluating cell-based assays for use with 3D structures. Learn about the novel viability and cytotoxicity assays that do not lyse cells and allow for additional multiplexing with nucleic acid purification or other markers of cell function. Presenters: Dr. Terry Riss started the Cell Biology program at Promega Corporation in 1990 and held several R&D and Project Management positions since. Dr. Riss managed development of cell viability, cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and protease assay systems and also lead efforts to identify and promote multiplexing of cell-based assays to determine the mechanism of cell death. Dr. Riss now serves as Senior Product Manager, Cell Health involved in outreach educational training activities including validating assay systems applied to 3D cell culture models. Dr. Riss also serves as an editor of the In Vitro Cell-Based Assays section of the Assay Guidance Manual hosted by The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) at the NIH. Dr. Austin Mogen is a Field Application Scientist at Corning Life Sciences. He received his doctorate from the University of Florida and gained industry experience as both a Senior Scientist of upstream process development and Supervisor for manufacturing of viral vectors. In this position he focused on bioprocess development, closed system solutions for cell culture scale-up, and production of viral vectors for cell and gene therapy. Dr. Mogen works extensively with academic researchers and process development groups, optimizing cell culture assays and cellular scale-up conditions. In addition, he focuses on collaborations utilizing high-end 3D technology products such as the Corning spheroid microplates, transwell inserts, and extracellular matrices to provide more in vivo models for biological research and therapeutic response.