Advanced 3D cell culture for innovative research and targeted diagnostics

3D cell culture technologies, such as organ-on-chip and organoids, bring us closer to realistic models of human tissue. During this seminar, we will show how these systems, combined with mechanical stimulation and live-cell imaging, open up new possibilities for disease research, drug development and personalized diagnostics. You will discover how organ-on-chip platforms with dynamic forces mimic cell behavior and tissue formation more realistically. In addition, we will show how advanced imaging, from high-throughput to high-resolution, is used to monitor complex 3D models in real time. Practical applications in automated workflows and AI-based image analysis will be discussed. This session offers a technically sound and future-oriented overview for everyone working on innovative cell models in the lab.

“Using organ-on-chip as advanced tool to mimic human-like behaviors”

Organ-on-chip (OoC) systems are revolutionizing biomedical research by offering physiologically relevant models of human tissues. chiron has developed innovative platforms that integrate active mechanical stimulation to better replicate in vivo conditions. By mimicking dynamic forces such as strain, shear, and compression, chiron's devices enhance cellular behavior, tissue maturation, and predictive modeling. This talk will highlight how chiron's technologies enable more accurate disease modeling, drug testing, and regenerative studies. Integrating mechanical cues into OoC systems represents a critical step toward bridging the gap between in vitro models and human physiology for more reliable translational outcomes.

Speaker: Carlo Alberto Paggi, University of Twente

“Live-Cell Imaging of 3D Cell Cultures: from High-Throughput to High-Resolution”

The integration of live-cell imaging with 3D cell culture systems such as organoids is transforming how we assess biological responses in a lab setting. In this talk, I will explore how different imaging strategies—from high-throughput widefield imaging to high-resolution confocal microscopy—can be used to monitor complex 3D models in real time. We'll walk through the practical implementation of these technologies in automated lab workflows and highlight how they can be scaled to meet the needs of modern research labs, hospitals, and contract research settings. The focus will be on instrumentation, imaging pipelines, and strategies to ensure consistent data acquisition across large experiments. I will also touch on how image analysis tools, including AI-based approaches, can support data interpretation and improve reproducibility, without requiring complex infrastructure. This presentation aims to provide a practical and technology-focused overview of what it takes to bring advanced live-cell imaging into routine lab practice.

Speaker: Christophe Deben, University of Antwerp

“Modular Workflows for Single-Cell to Tissue-Scale Mechanobiology in Vascular Organoids”

The CELLSYSTEMICS public-private partnership is building a configurable human-cell framework for mechanobiological interrogation of organoids. Workflow 1 delivers defined de/differentiation media and protocols applicable to any human iPSC or primary culture. Workflow 2 marries high-throughput Pavone micro-indentation with NL5 high-framerate fluorescence scanning to map viscoelasticity, Ca²⁺ kinetics and cytoskeletal remodeling at single-cell resolution. Workflow 3 couples the CUORE tissue bioreactor to electrical/mechanical stimulus-response read-outs, enabling tissue-level force generation and pharmacodynamic profiling. Each module functions stand-alone or as an end-to-end pipeline, supporting rigorous, animal-free phenotyping of vascular and other mechanically loaded organoids while accommodating iterative advances in biomaterials and data integration.

Speaker: Dr.ir. Koen Reesink, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering