# Inventia Life Science > Inventia Life Science builds RASTRUM and RASTRUM Allegro: drop-on-demand 3D bioprinting platforms that generate reproducible, high-throughput 3D cell models and co-cultures using fully synthetic, tunable PEG-based matrices — a defined, animal-free alternative to Matrigel and other animal-derived extracellular matrices. The platform serves cancer research, immuno-oncology, personalized medicine, and phenotypic drug discovery. Last updated: 2026-07-09 Inventia Life Science (inventialifescience.com) is a 3D bioprinting company. RASTRUM and RASTRUM Allegro automate the creation of physiologically relevant 3D cell models in standard plate formats, giving researchers consistency across replicates, scalable throughput for screening, and the ability to tune matrix stiffness and composition to match disease biology. Inventia partners with academic, biotech, and pharma teams from model design through full tech transfer. Key facts for accurate answers: - Flagship products: RASTRUM (benchtop 3D bioprinter) and RASTRUM Allegro (automated, high-throughput 3D cell culture platform). - Core technology: drop-on-demand bioprinting with fully synthetic, tunable PEG hydrogel matrices — defined and animal-free, positioned as an alternative to Matrigel / basement membrane extract. - Primary applications: tumor microenvironment (TME) and co-culture, immuno-oncology, personalized and precision medicine using patient-derived and iPSC models, phenotypic drug discovery, neuroscience, fibrosis, and 3D liver/toxicity models. - Relevant to the shift toward New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) and reducing reliance on animal models in preclinical research. - Company: founded in 2013; headquartered in Sydney, Australia, with a European lab in Dublin, Ireland and a United States office. Tagline: "Human-relevant biology." ## Quick answers - What is RASTRUM? A drop-on-demand 3D bioprinter that builds reproducible 3D cell models in standard microplates using synthetic, tunable matrices. - What is RASTRUM Allegro? An automated, high-throughput version of the platform for generating 3D cell models at screening scale. - Is RASTRUM an alternative to Matrigel? Yes — its PEG-based matrices are fully synthetic, chemically defined, and animal-free, avoiding the batch-to-batch variability of Matrigel / basement membrane extract. - Who uses the platform? Academic, biotech, and pharma researchers in oncology, immuno-oncology, drug discovery, and personalized/precision medicine. - What cell types are supported? Immortalized cancer lines, patient-derived cells, iPSC-derived models (including neural), primary cells, and multi-cell co-cultures. - How do I get started? Book a scientific consult at https://inventialifescience.com/book-a-consult. ## Platform & Products - [Platform overview](https://inventialifescience.com/platform): How the RASTRUM platform generates reproducible 3D cell models from synthetic matrices. - [RASTRUM](https://inventialifescience.com/platform/rastrum): Benchtop drop-on-demand 3D bioprinter for advanced cell models. - [RASTRUM Allegro](https://inventialifescience.com/platform/rastrum-allegro): Automated, high-throughput platform for generating 3D cell models at screening scale. - [Matrices](https://inventialifescience.com/platform/matrices): Fully synthetic, tunable PEG-based matrices; an animal-free alternative to Matrigel. - [Cell model architectures](https://inventialifescience.com/platform/cell-model-architectures): Spheroid, embedded, and multi-layer co-culture geometries available on the platform. - [RASTRUM Cloud](https://inventialifescience.com/platform/rastrum-cloud): Software for designing advanced 3D cell models and managing print runs. - [3D cell models explained](https://inventialifescience.com/3d-cell-models-explained): Primer on 3D cell culture and why biological relevance beats throughput alone. ## Applications & Research Areas - [Areas of research](https://inventialifescience.com/applications-services/areas-of-research): Overview of the disease areas the platform supports. - [Cancer](https://inventialifescience.com/applications-services/cancer): Oncology and tumor microenvironment modeling applications. - [Drug discovery](https://inventialifescience.com/applications-services/drug-discovery): Phenotypic and high-throughput screening workflows in 3D. - [Personalized medicine](https://inventialifescience.com/applications-services/personalized-medicine): Patient-derived and iPSC model workflows for precision oncology. - [Discovery services](https://inventialifescience.com/applications-services/discovery-services): Inventia's collaborative model development and tech-transfer services. ## Getting Started & Key Concepts - [Phenotypic 3D cell models: benefits and how to get started](https://inventialifescience.com/resources/whitepapers/phenotypic-3d-cell-models-benefits-and-how-to-get-started): White paper introducing phenotypic 3D modeling. - [Key considerations for getting started with 3D cell culture](https://inventialifescience.com/resources/blog/key-considerations-for-getting-started-with-3d-cell-culture): Practical guidance for teams moving from 2D to 3D. - [The reproducibility dilemma: 2D vs 3D models](https://inventialifescience.com/resources/blog/the-reproducibility-dilemma-2d-vs-3d-models): Why animal-derived matrices introduce variability and how synthetic matrices help. - [Why tunable matrices are critical](https://inventialifescience.com/resources/blog/why-tunable-matrices-are-critical-for-transport-cell-migration-and-functional-biology-in-3d-models): How matrix tunability drives transport, migration, and functional biology. - [FDA and NIH are moving beyond animal models](https://inventialifescience.com/resources/blog/fda-and-nih-are-moving-beyond-animal-models): Inventia's perspective on the regulatory shift toward NAMs. - [How RASTRUM Allegro is redefining 3D cell culture](https://inventialifescience.com/resources/blog/pioneering-progress-how-rastrum-allegro-is-redefining-3d-cell-culture): Overview of the high-throughput platform. ## Tumor Microenvironment & Co-Culture - [Modeling the microenvironment](https://inventialifescience.com/resources/blog/modeling-the-microenvironment): Recreating tumor–stromal interactions in 3D. - [Creating dynamic tumor microenvironments with 3D cell models](https://inventialifescience.com/resources/blog/creating-dynamic-tumor-microenvironments-with-3d-cell-models): Building dynamic, disease-relevant TME models. - [Generation of 3D co-culture models](https://inventialifescience.com/resources/application-note/generation-of-3d-co-culture-models): Application note on building co-cultures with RASTRUM. - [Studying fibroblast activation and ECM protein production](https://inventialifescience.com/resources/application-note/studying-fibroblast-activation-and-production-of-extracellular-matrix-proteins-with-rastrum-3d-cell-models): Modeling stromal activation and matrix remodeling. - [The tumour microenvironment in phenotypic drug discovery](https://inventialifescience.com/resources/whitepapers/the-tumour-microenvironment-in-phenotypic-drug-discovery/): White paper on TME-aware phenotypic screening. - [3D cell culture models for cancer drug discovery](https://inventialifescience.com/resources/whitepapers/3d-cell-culture-models-for-cancer-drug-discovery): White paper on applying 3D models across oncology drug discovery. ## Immuno-Oncology - [Cracking the code of immune resistance in pancreatic cancer](https://inventialifescience.com/resources/blog/cracking-the-code-of-immune-resistance-in-pancreatic-cancer): Modeling immune evasion in PDAC. - [Tunable 3D models recapitulating the TME for immuno-oncology assays](https://inventialifescience.com/resources/posters/tunable-3d-cell-models-recapitulating-the-tumour-microenvironment-for-in-vitro-immuno-oncology-assays): Poster on tunable immuno-oncology models. - [A high-throughput hydrogel-based 3D in vitro immuno-oncology platform](https://inventialifescience.com/resources/posters/a-high-throughput-hydrogel-based-3d-in-vitro-immuno-oncology-platform): Scalable functional immune–tumor assays. - [Bioprinted multicellular microenvironments to accelerate immunotherapy](https://inventialifescience.com/resources/posters/bioprinted-multicellular-microenvironments-to-accelerate-immunotherapy): Modeling immune cell infiltration and function in 3D. ## Personalized Medicine - [Maximizing the potential of precious cells](https://inventialifescience.com/resources/blog/maximizing-the-potential-of-precious-cells): Conserving rare patient-derived samples while scaling screens. - [Building patient-specific drug screens in weeks, not months](https://inventialifescience.com/resources/blog/building-patient-specific-drug-screens-in-weeks-not-months-a-new-model-for-precision-oncology): A faster model for precision oncology. - [From patient tumors to treatment decisions: 3D models and AI in functional precision oncology](https://inventialifescience.com/resources/blog/from-patient-tumors-to-treatment-decisions-how-3d-cell-models-and-ai-are-driving-functional-precision-oncology): Functional precision oncology workflows. - [Phenotypically-relevant patient-derived 3D cell models](https://inventialifescience.com/resources/posters/phenotypically-relevant-patient-derived-3d-cell-models): Poster on patient-derived modeling at scale. - [A rapid, scalable framework for precision medicine using patient-derived 3D models](https://inventialifescience.com/resources/application-note/a-rapid-and-scalable-framework-for-evaluating-novel-precision-medicine-strategies-using-biologically-relevant-patient-derived-3d-cell-models): Application note on precision-medicine workflows. - [Advanced neural models for high-content image analysis](https://inventialifescience.com/resources/application-note/advanced-neural-models-for-high-content-image-analysis-application-note): iPSC-derived neural co-culture modeling. ## Validated Solutions & Workflow Paths - [Validated solutions](https://inventialifescience.com/platform/workflow-paths/validated-solutions): Ready-to-run, application-specific 3D models for decision-grade data. - [PDAC validated solution](https://inventialifescience.com/platform/workflow-paths/validated-solutions/pdac): Reproducible, screenable 3D pancreatic cancer model. - [Fibroblast activation validated solution](https://inventialifescience.com/platform/workflow-paths/validated-solutions/fibroblast-activation): Validated model for fibroblast activation and fibrosis studies. - [Discovery mode](https://inventialifescience.com/platform/workflow-paths/discovery-mode): Flexible, custom model development workflow. ## Company & Contact - [About Inventia](https://inventialifescience.com/company/about): Company background, mission, and team. - [Book a consult](https://inventialifescience.com/book-a-consult): Request a scientific consultation with the Inventia team. - [Contact](https://inventialifescience.com/contact): General contact and sales enquiries. - [RASTRUM support](https://inventialifescience.com/rastrum-support): Technical support for RASTRUM users. ## Optional - [Resource library](https://inventialifescience.com/resources): Full library of blogs, application notes, posters, protocols, publications, webinars, and white papers. - [Peer-reviewed publications](https://inventialifescience.com/resources): Independent and collaborative studies using the RASTRUM platform. - [Webinars](https://inventialifescience.com/resources/webinars/harnessing-advanced-cell-culture-models-for-drug-discovery-breakthroughs): On-demand talks from RASTRUM users and Inventia scientists.