Organoid modeling can be done using adult human tissues, mouse models, or by engineering induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS).

At UC San Diego Health, Associate Project Scientist, Herve Tiriac, is using adult tissues to create 3D patient-derived pancreas-like organoids.

He discusses the following:

• What portion of the pancreas is modeled in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tumor organoids
• What happens when different cell types are cultured together
• How models can be created using only the tissue from fine needle biopsies
• What types of variation are present in pancreatic tumors

Driven by both professional and personal reasons, Dr. Tiriac is interested in using 3D patient-derived organoid modeling in order to better understand pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that’s both very deadly and understudied.

He sees this research as an opportunity to implement meaningful clinical improvement in the lives of those affected, and build a precision medicine technology platform in doing so.

Dr. Tiriac discusses the origination of the term “organoid” and the types of organoid modeling that can be done, the process of the development of organoids based on patient-derived pancreatic tumors, the challenge of organoid contamination by yeast and/or fungi, what types of new experimentation will be done in the near future, such as those dealing with the problem of treatment resistance and improving existing approaches to the development of tumor organoids, and so much more.

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