Abstract

Chairman’s Opening Remarks: Designing and Validating Fit-for-Purpose Assays to Interrogate 3D Culture Models

Terry Riss, Global Strategic Marketing Manager Cell Health, Promega Corporation

There continues to be a rapid expansion in the use of 3D cell culture model systems because they more closely represent the in vivo situation compared to culturing cells as a monolayer attached to plastic. There are many approaches classified as 3D culture models ranging from individual scaffold-free spheroids to multiple organoids designed to represent a human-on-a-chip. Researchers soon become aware the spectrum of 3D models have vastly different requirements and there is no “one size fits all” approach. Selecting a 3D culture model that is “fit for purpose” involves several decisions and often results in a compromise considering sample throughput, complexity, physiological relevance, cost and limitations in the assay technologies. I will describe an overview of factors to consider when designing an appropriate 3D culture model and stress the importance of considering limitations of assay methods to interrogate relatively large 3D structures. I encourage the other speakers in this session to address both the advantages and limitations of the model systems they present.