5C: Biomaterials for Organoids

Three-dimensional ex vivo organoid cultures using biomaterial-based assembly and self-assembly have been shown to resemble and recapitulate most of the functionality of diverse multicellular tissues and organs, such as the gut, brain, liver, kidney, and lung. They can be dissected and interrogated for fundamental mechanistic studies on human tissue development, regeneration and repair. They can also be used in diagnostics, disease modeling, drug discovery and personalized medicine. For example, in vitro disease models will provide cutting-edge approaches to replicate pathological conditions outside the human body. Thus, organoids bridge a gap in existing model systems by providing a more stable system that is amenable to extended cultivation and manipulation while being more representative of in vivo physiology. This session will cover the most recent advancements in biomaterials-mediated organoid and in vitro models of disease technologies in regenerative medicine, cancer therapy, drug testing, environmental control, monitoring, adaptive sensing, personalized medicine, therapeutic development and translational applications. This topic has been well-received in past SFB meetings and is an exciting emerging research area. In 2025, we will continue this session and promote translational research on the commercial viability of biomaterials-mediated organoid projects.