Building realistic 3D bone tumor models to find better treatments
Engineering 3D Osteosarcoma Models to Elucidate Biology and Inform Drug Discovery
Making 3D bone-tumor models to help find more effective drug combinations for children and young adults with osteosarcoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11308655 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will grow osteosarcoma cells in lab-made 3D bone-like scaffolds that include mineral components similar to real bone to better mimic tumors in the body. They will combine these models with high-resolution genomic tools (for example ATAC-seq) to map tumor diversity and mechanisms of drug resistance. The team will run higher-throughput drug combination screens on these 3D models to spot therapies that work better than standard chemotherapy. The goal is to use findings from these more realistic models to guide future therapies for patients with chemo-resistant or metastatic osteosarcoma.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Most relevant to children and young adults with osteosarcoma, especially those with tumors that are resistant to standard chemotherapy or have metastasized.
Not a fit: People without osteosarcoma or patients who need immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to get direct benefit from this lab-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reveal why some osteosarcomas resist chemotherapy and point to new drug combinations that work better for patients.
How similar studies have performed: 3D tissue-engineered tumor models have improved drug prediction in other cancers, but bone-specific mineralized models for osteosarcoma are newer and less proven.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Fan — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Yang, Fan
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.