'If I had colon cancer, I could grow my own tumor, and see which drug kills it'
a day ago
- #drug testing
- #personalized medicine
- #organoids
- Organoids are small, lab-grown structures that mimic the functions of human organs, created from stem cells in a culture dish.
- Hans Clevers, a professor of molecular genetics, has been researching organoids since the early 2000s, leading to advancements in drug testing and personalized medicine.
- Organoids can be used to model diseases like cancer and cystic fibrosis, allowing for personalized drug testing and treatment plans.
- The FDA has proposed reducing reliance on animal testing, partly due to the potential of organoids, though complete replacement is unlikely due to their simplicity.
- Organoids are particularly promising for rare cancers and childhood cancers, where traditional treatments are limited or unknown.
- Research is also exploring organoids for infectious diseases, such as Covid-19, to better understand how viruses affect different organs.
- Despite their potential, widespread use of organoids in hospitals requires further development of automated systems for creation and testing.