Improving the use of patient-derived organoids for testing cancer drugs
Official title: Increasing organoid reproducibility and complexity for drug testing and disease modeling
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11064662 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on making tiny, lab-grown versions of tumors from patients to help find the best cancer treatments for them, using new techniques to make these models more like real tumors so doctors can better predict how well different drugs will work.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $391,703 |
| NIH project number | 1R33CA297969-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11064662 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are cancer patients who have not responded to first-line treatments and may benefit from personalized drug testing.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage cancer who have not yet undergone treatment may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the effectiveness of patient-derived organoids (PDOs) as models for testing cancer drugs. By creating more complex and reproducible 3D tissue models, the project aims to better predict how patients will respond to various cancer treatments. The approach involves innovative techniques called '4D tissue fabrication' to improve the growth and organization of these organoids, making them more representative of actual tumors. This could lead to more personalized treatment options for patients who do not respond to standard therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective cancer treatments tailored to individual patients' needs.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using organoid models for drug testing, indicating that this approach could lead to significant advancements in cancer treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gartner, Zev Jordan — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Gartner, Zev Jordan
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.