Personalized Models for Cancer Research

Implement organoid culture technologies.

NYSCF will establish patient specific tumor models known as organoids. Organoids are three dimensional cell culture laboratory models with self-organizing capabilities and long-term expansion potential that recapitulate the tissue they are derived from at the histological, molecular, and phenotypic level. We will create organoids from each subject sample collected. Primary outcome measure is successful growth of organoids from individual tumor samples.

Validate genotypic and phenotypic relevance of tumor-derived organoids for biobanking.

To ensure the validity of outcome 1, NYSCF will perform a series of molecular and histological evaluations in primary tissues versus the derived organoid model.

Establish functional testing using organoid cultures alone or in combination with additional cell types.

To validate the clinical utility of the organoid models and the discovery of novel therapeutic strategies, NYSCF will establish methodologies to evaluate organoid responses (i.e., genetic, phenotypic, morphological changes) to small molecules and/or additional treatment modalities such as immunotherapies, antibody-based therapeutics, and others.

Perform drug testing and screens to identify new targets and/or new therapeutic strategies to effectively treat cancer.

As with outcome 3, to validate the clinical utility of the organoid models and the discovery of novel therapeutic strategies, NYSCF will establish methodologies to evaluate organoid responses (i.e., genetic, phenotypic, morphological changes) to small molecules and/or additional treatment modalities such as immunotherapies, antibody-based therapeutics, and others.