Process for generation of mini-organs from patient’s induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells

Scientists have the ability to generate iPS cells from patients and healthy individuals using easily available tissue such as blood and skin. These iPS cells are then used to create cells of a particular type or more complex tissues, called organoids, both of which would be affected by the disease of the patient.

This enables the study of specific diseases outside the human body, offering human models of disease. By comparing the development of healthy and disease cells or organoids in culture, we can now understand how certain diseases develop and disturb the cells of the affected organ or its whole complex niche. The availability of these models also facilitates the development of new treatments.

The Stem Cell & Organoid Facility offers the generation of specific cell types in monolayer (2D) cultures and the bespoke generation of three-dimension (3D) organoids to support translational research in functional genomics and advanced therapeutics for genetic diseases.