Cell Expansion Bioreactors for Patient-Specific Tumor Models
Official title: CELL EXPANSION BIOREACTORS FOR ASSAY-READY IMMUNOCOMPETENT PATIENT MODELS
Funded at Link Biosystems INC. · NIH-11319044 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A project to grow patient tumor cells in a special bioreactor to create ready-to-use tumor models for testing cancer drugs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Link Biosystems INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvington, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 1, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $780,952 |
| NIH project number | 5R44CA281356-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11319044 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients whose tumors can be expanded into standardized tumoroid models for drug screening and biobank creation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumor biology does not expand well in these bioreactor models or who are not part of a screening program.
What this research studies
This grant focuses on producing large, standardized patient tumor models using a serum-free, controlled bioreactor that promotes natural cell signaling and nutrient flow. The goal is to generate many identical, immunocompetent tumoroid tissues that can be used to screen drugs and combinations tailored to individual patients. The approach aims to speed up preclinical testing and enable more accurate predictions of how drugs will work in people, including immunotherapies. Results could lead to patient-specific biobanks and faster identification of effective treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from more predictive drug screening and faster access to effective therapies tailored to their tumor biology.
How similar studies have gone: Similar efforts in tumor model systems have shown promise in improving preclinical predictivity, though scaling to patient-specific, immunocompetent models is an emerging area.
Where this research is happening
-
Link Biosystems INC.
Irvington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ronaldson, Kacey — Link Biosystems INC.
- Study coordinator: Ronaldson, Kacey
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Creating patient-specific tumor models for cancer treatment
This study is working on creating special systems that grow human tumor cells like they would in the body, so doctors can test different cancer treatments on them and find the best options for each patient.
-
Improving the production of patient-specific stem cells for therapy
This study is working on a better way to grow special stem cells that can be used in personalized treatments for patients, making it easier and more affordable to produce the large amounts needed for therapy.
-
Improving the production of heart cells from stem cells for better treatments.
This study is working on a better way to grow heart cells from stem cells, which can help doctors understand and treat heart diseases more effectively, making it easier to use these cells in patient care.
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.