Automated Organoid-based screening assay for Diagnostic purposes

HUB and its academic partners have shown that it is possible to keep stem cells from sick patients alive outside the body and to grow them into mini-organs. These so-called organoids can mimic the functioning of human organs, making them very suitable as a diagnostic tool to predict, for example, the effectiveness of medicines for diseases such as cancer. Organoid technology enables oncologists to provide patients with adequate clinical and personalised treatment. However, to deploy the technology as a valuable clinical application, it is necessary to automate the process and accelerate the generation of these valuable results.

In the project, AOSADia, HUB and Yamaha have joined forces to advance current Organoid technology by integrating Yamaha's Cell Handler robot. The Cell Handler can sort cells automatically, reduce material needs, and identify and transfer the most suitable cells. Initial experiments have shown that the Cell Handler could automate processes within Organoid Technology. This prevents inaccurate measurements and makes the overall process more efficient and faster. In this project, the partners have developed protocols to make the Cell Handler suitable for transferring organoids accurately and efficiently into a screening well. Screening results generated using the Cell Handler have been validated by comparing them to the current method, demonstrating their effectiveness and accuracy. In addition, the screening results with Cell Handler have been proven as an assay that predicts the efficacy of colorectal cancer drugs. Such an automated organoid screening test with Cell Handler will make it possible to provide sick patients with the most effective treatment and significantly reduce the costs associated with (ineffective) treatments.