Fast lab-grown mini tumor models from patient biopsies
Official title: An integrated microfluidic device for patient-derived micro-organospheres
Funded at Xilis, INC. · NIH-11192335 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to create a device that quickly grows tiny, patient-specific tumor models from small biopsies to help guide treatment choices for people with breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Xilis, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 20, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $758,547 |
| NIH project number | 5R44CA287952-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11192335 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with solid tumors—particularly breast cancer—who can provide a small fresh biopsy (for example an 18G core) and are interested in personalized treatment information.
✕Less likely to help
People with blood cancers, those unable to undergo a biopsy, or patients who need immediate therapy without time for ex vivo testing may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
If I were a patient with breast cancer, this project would use a new benchtop device to turn a small biopsy into many tiny 'mini-tumors' that mirror my tumor's behavior. The device forms Matrigel droplets in an oil emulsion, polymerizes them with heat inside a custom chip, and then removes the oil so the mini-tumors can be grown and tested in standard lab media. Xilis plans to integrate these steps into a single, automated microfluidic instrument that meets FDA, CLIA, and IVDR standards to make the process faster and easier to use. The aim is to enable quicker, scalable personalized drug testing so results could potentially inform treatment decisions sooner.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let doctors test multiple therapies on models made from your own tumor faster, helping choose treatments more likely to work and avoid ineffective ones.
How similar studies have gone: Patient-derived organoids and xenografts have shown promise in predicting treatment response but are often slow and costly, while rapid microfluidic mini-tumor approaches are newer and less clinically validated.
Where this research is happening
-
Xilis, INC.
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nelson, Daniel Aaron — Xilis, INC.
- Study coordinator: Nelson, Daniel Aaron
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
A device that quickly grows patient-specific cancer models for treatment testing
This study is working on a new device that quickly makes tiny models of your tumor from a small sample, so doctors can test how your cancer might respond to different treatments and find the best option just for you.
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.