Areas of Research | 3D Cell Models for Disease & Drug Discovery

We develop solutions to create advanced cell models and help forward-thinking pioneers in the fields of drug discovery and biomedical research to create human tissue for research and therapy.

Our machines create advanced cell models which most closely and predictably imitate real human tissue structure and behaviour across a range of disease states. This physiological complexity offers an environment in which world-class research and discovery can occur, right in your own lab.

Cancer research encompasses a broad and dynamic field dedicated to understanding the mechanisms of cancer development, progression, and treatment. Cancer research faces significant challenges due to the unique nature of each cancer, requiring biologically-relevant models for developing effective therapies.

Cancer cell models generated by RASTRUM™ have made impact in key focus areas such as:

Tumour microenvironment
Cancer drug discovery
Immuno-oncology
Tumour cell migration
Invasion

Hepatotoxicity, a leading cause of drug failure and withdrawals in clinical trials, primarily affects the liver. Animal models are unreliable for predicting human drug-induced liver injury (DILI), and current 3D cell models face challenges like poor scalability, manual handling, and workflow incompatibility.

The industry requires improved in vitro human cell models for DILI. Advanced liver cell models generated by RASTRUM™ have powerful applications for DILI studies in the preclinical phase of drug discovery.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) offer great potential for neurodegenerative disease research and drug discovery. They can become various central nervous system (CNS) cell types, aiding the study of diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's. Creating physiologically relevant in vitro CNS models is vital for understanding disease and testing potential treatments.

These models reveal disease progression at a cellular level, potentially identifying unique phenotypes and therapeutic targets. Success relies on supporting multiple functional iPSC-derived CNS cell types and replicating complex neurodegenerative disease architectures.

RASTRUM™ is biocompatible with multiple iPSC-derived CNS cell types, enabling the generation of neural cell models with complex microenvironments.

Fibroblasts play a crucial role in maintaining tissue structure, wound healing, and immune responses. Understanding fibroblast behaviour and interactions is key to unraveling the mechanisms behind various diseases, including cancer, fibrosis, and inflammatory disorders. Insights gained from fibroblast research can lead to the development of innovative therapies and interventions, making it an essential area of study in biomedical science.

RASTRUM™ offers tunable, biofunctional matrices to create physiologically relevant fibroblast microenvironments, eliciting in vivo-like phenotypes for high-throughput target discovery and phenotypic screening.

Immuno-oncology is the study of leveraging the immune system to combat cancer and has revolutionised cancer treatment. Creating physiologically relevant in vitro assays that accurately replicate the tumour microenvironment is vital for accelerating immuno-oncology research.

RASTRUM™ enables the study of tumour-immune cell interactions and the assessment of immunotherapeutic strategies in a physiologically relevant context.

FAQs

Can RASTRUM support 3D liver models for toxicology research?

RASTRUM can support 3D liver model development for toxicology research when the selected liver cells, matrix, architecture, and assay workflow are optimized for the intended application. RASTRUM-generated liver models can be used in research workflows for drug-induced liver injury and other preclinical research workflows.

Can RASTRUM support iPSC-derived neural models?

RASTRUM workflows can support development of iPSC-derived neural 3D models when the selected neural cell types, matrix, architecture, culture duration, and assays are compatible. Relevant research applications include iPSC-derived CNS models and neuron-astrocyte co-culture workflows.

How can 3D bioprinted iPSC models support neurodegenerative disease research?

3D bioprinted iPSC-derived models can support neurodegenerative disease research by enabling differentiated neural cell types and advanced co-culture systems to be studied in controlled 3D environments. Workflows can be optimized around differentiation stage, cell composition, maturation, connectivity, phenotype, and readouts for disease biology or treatment response.

What areas of research can RASTRUM support?

RASTRUM can support a range of research areas where reproducible 3D cell models are useful, including cancer, tumor microenvironment biology, liver toxicology, brain and iPSC-derived models, fibroblast activation, immuno-oncology, drug discovery, and personalized medicine research.

How can RASTRUM support fibroblast research?

RASTRUM can support fibroblast research by enabling 3D models that include fibroblasts alone or in co-culture with other cell types. These workflows may be used to study fibroblast activation, stromal signaling, extracellular matrix remodeling, pathway signaling, cellular function, tumor-stroma interactions, and tissue-specific microenvironment effects.

What disease models can Inventia Discovery Services support?

Inventia Discovery Services can support RASTRUM-based 3D disease model development across oncology and tumor microenvironment research, including pancreatic cancer / PDAC, colorectal cancer, ovarian, breast, and lung cancer contexts; immuno-oncology; fibrosis and stromal biology; neurodegenerative disease; and custom disease models where the cells, matrix, architecture, culture conditions, and readouts are technically feasible.

Can Discovery Services support fibrosis or stromal biology models?

Discovery Services can support fibrosis and stromal biology workflows involving fibroblast activation, CAF biology, stromal signaling, extracellular matrix remodeling, and treatment-response questions where the model can be designed around compatible cells, matrices, architectures, and readouts.

Can Discovery Services support neurodegenerative disease models?

Discovery Services can support custom 3D model development for neurodegenerative disease research where a fit-for-purpose model is needed to represent disease biology, evaluate treatment response, or generate feasibility data. Model scope depends on cell type, culture conditions, matrix, architecture, and readouts.

One platform. Unlimited possibilities.

Our models are built for 3D cell biology, accelerating drug discovery and biomedical research.