Page 40 - Gates-AnnualReport-2019
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 This core continues to provide services for numerous clients on the Anschutz Medical Campus and at CU Boulder, as well as national and international external clients.
THE ORGANOID AND TISSUE MODELING CORE FACILITY
Background:
Recent advances in adult stem cell 3D organoid cultures, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and genome editing technologies have created unprecedented potential to investigate and treat human disease. However, progress toward effective therapies has been slowed by lack of in vitro models that recapitulate the complex tissue environments in which cells differentiate and function. Despite great strengths in cell and animal models, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (AMC) has had a critical need for experimental systems that better represent human development, homeostasis and disease. The development of an Organoid and Tissue Modeling Core Facility will provide investigators with a wide array of opportunities to develop and utilize powerful human organoid and tissue models that will enhance their research capabilities and improve competitiveness for external grant funding.
Generation of intestinal 3D Organoids and Tumor Organoids:
In July 2016, an Enteroid Stem Cell Core was established within the Gastrointestinal and Liver Innate Immunity Program (GALIIP), which was funded through the Dean’s Transformational grant mechanism. This core was directed by Dr. Peter Dempsey and its primary goal was to generate mouse and human intestinal 3D organoids. In addition to generating intestinal 3D organoids, Dr. Dempsey collaborated with Dr. Wells Messersmith, head of the Division of Medical Oncology, to successfully generate tumor organoid lines from patients with colorectal cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, esophageal cancer and cholangioma. Other investigators have expressed an interest in generating organoids from the following tumor types: bile duct, liver and head and neck cancers.
Generation of Organoids from Other Patient-derived Tissues and Diseases:
With continued advances in methodologies to grow other adult stem cells, there has also been tremendous interest from CU Anschutz investigators to establish organoids from a wide variety of patient-derived tissues, including: taste buds, salivary gland, thymic epithelium, lung, brain, heart and pancreas.
Investigators have additionally expressed interest in generating organoids from patients who suffer from osteoarthritis, obesity, immunodeficiencies, polyposis syndromes, inflammatory bowel disease, HIV and aging, and from pediatric patients with intestinal failure and monogenic diarrheal diseases.
Core Facility Goals:
The Organoid and Tissue Modeling Core Facility aims to provide CU Anschutz investigators the ability to overcome the barriers to organoid and tissue experimentation. The facility will be equipped to culture and store tissue and organoid samples and to stock consumable materials, and will be staffed by scientists providing investigators with training and technical assistance. Specific offerings will include:
• Training and expertise in organoid culture techniques.
• Experimental design consultation and novel protocol development.
• Access to consumable, specialized reagents at reduced cost.
• An automated live cell imaging platform to increase the scale and information content of organoid experiments.
• Development of new bioengineering technologies and new platforms for drug discovery.
• A repository of in vitro grown primary human tissues that are accessible to the research community.
• Access to well characterized cell and tissue lines.
• Organoids derived from normal and diseased tissues.
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