VivoSphere: a tumor-accurate, high-throughput 3D cancer model for colorectal cancer drug screening
Official title: VivoSphere as an oncology platform for colorectal cancer modeling and drug screening
Funded at Vivosphere LLC · NIH-11256254 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new 3D cancer model called VivoSphere is being developed to test colorectal cancer drugs more quickly and accurately in the lab.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vivosphere LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Auburn, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $350,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R44CA302245-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11256254 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with colorectal cancer whose tumors could be represented by 3D in vitro models for future drug testing.
✕Less likely to help
Some patients’ tumors may not be represented well by the VivoSphere models or the platform may not yet translate to approved therapies.
What this research studies
This project creates cell-laden hydrogel spheres that mimic the tumor environment and are compatible with high-throughput drug screening. It uses a microfluidic system to produce consistent, controllable models that can include tumor and stromal cells. The goal is to provide a more realistic test bed than standard 2D cultures, potentially speeding up drug discovery for colorectal cancer. Researchers will compare VivoSphere models to existing 3D systems to show improvements in consistency and predictive value.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this platform could shorten the time and cost to identify effective colorectal cancer drugs and personalize screening.
How similar studies have gone: 3D tumor models and organoids have shown promise in improving drug screening accuracy, but there is ongoing work to optimize TME control and throughput.
Where this research is happening
-
Vivosphere LLC
Auburn, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tian, Yuan — Vivosphere LLC
- Study coordinator: Tian, Yuan
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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.