Living mini-tumors (organoids) for breast and pancreatic cancer research
Core B: Organoid Biobank
They grow tiny 3-D tumor models from patient samples to help researchers develop better treatments for breast and pancreatic cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cold Spring Harbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11294230 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you donate tumor tissue, they grow tiny 3-D "mini-organ" tumors in the lab that mimic real cancers. Each organoid is genetically and transcriptomically profiled and classified into molecular subtypes. The biobank collects hundreds of these models, with a focus on basal-subtype breast and pancreatic cancers, and shares them with researchers working on related projects. That lets researchers test drugs and study tumor behavior in living human-derived models that often reflect patient tumors better than older cell lines.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with breast or pancreatic tumors, especially basal-subtype cancers, who can donate fresh tumor tissue during surgery or biopsy.
Not a fit: Patients without available tumor tissue to donate, those with cancer types not represented in the biobank, or those seeking immediate treatment changes are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This could enable more personalized drug testing and help identify treatments that work better for specific breast and pancreatic tumor subtypes.
How similar studies have performed: Other organoid biobanks have successfully mirrored human tumor biology and aided preclinical drug testing, though direct translation to patient care is still developing.
Where this research is happening
Cold Spring Harbor, United States
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory — Cold Spring Harbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dos Santos, Camila — Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Study coordinator: Dos Santos, Camila
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.