OrganID: Organ-derived complex 2D/3D cultures in human disease (ORGANID)

2D/3D organoids are miniaturized and simplified in vitro systems of organs derived from biopsies
either from human or animal tissue. They are characterized by heterogeneity and complexity and
therefore resemble well the in vivo situation. If cultured under specific growth conditions, the
stem cells of these biopsies grow out to a spheroid 3-dimensional structures resembling the
original organ they were derived of. One great advantage over classical animal models is that
2D/3D organoids represent the exact genotypes of specific patient groups and therefore allow
studying specific genotype-related phenotypes. In animal models of disease, even if humanized,
the gene of interest is either not in its physiological environment or is a knock-out of the animal
orthologue of the studied protein. Therefore, organoids are excellent model systems for:
(1) Functional diagnostics and patient stratification (for personalized treatment strategies)
(2) Discovery of novel therapeutics (for humanizing drug discovery and increasing the translational
success from preclinical to clinical development).
In OrganID the consortium integrates expertise on complex heterogeneous cultures and specific
diseases with a high unmet medical need. Technology is developed at IMEC for improved readouts
of complex cell cultures. Recently the immune aspect in different diseases is gaining
momentum, which is reflected in the complex disease models and assays developed in OrganID.
These models will increase our deep understanding of disease pathogenesis, but will also find
their application in drug discovery. In order to reach this goal, the different research teams, all
excellent in their particular field, will collaborate on research relating to cystic fibrosis,
inflammatory bowel disease (gut organoids), glioblastoma multiforme and Alzheimer’s Disease
(brain cultures).