A Cultured Life: Innovations in Spheroid and Organoid Models

Scientists strive for recapitulation. A seemingly odd goal to reach for at first glance, yet, during experimentation, a fundamental objective is to introduce as few variables as possible while simultaneously trying to recreate in vivo conditions as closely as possible. For decades, two-dimensional cell culture was not only the best way to study the cell biology of healthy and diseased tissue—in many cases, it was the only way. But now, we are in the 21st century, and technological innovations in biomedical sciences have allowed investigators to get closer than ever to an accurate recapitulation of tissue and organ systems. Advanced 3D cell culture methods, such as the development of spheroids and organoids, have become increasingly popular and are revolutionizing approaches to drug discovery, cancer research, and other disease modeling applications. These more in vivo like models show great promise in furthering research in critical areas by delivering more physiologically relevant results. In this on-demand GEN webinar, the presenters explore two 3D cell culture paths: one using complex organoid models and CRISPR/Cas9 technology to understand the tumor microenvironment, including gene expression signatures and responses to immunotherapies. The other using novel microcavity spheroid technology to generate thousands of viable and productive monoclonal cell lines for several applications.