This method is inexpensive, easy and well suited for various studies such as cell-cell interactions or drug screening. Scaffold based models involve the fabrication of materials similar to extracellular matrix (E.C.M.), in which cells are embedded or loaded into. This method is used to help understand interactions and nutrient gradients between the cell and the E.C.M., for purposes such as drug screening. Organoids are derived from stem cells and cultured long enough so that they form 3-D. structures that mimic organs in the body. These models are often used to study drug toxicity and sensitivity.
Curam is a research center that is funded by the Science Foundation Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund. It is directed by leaders in the field at the University of Galway and operates in collaboration with researchers across the country at various research institutes including Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, and University College Cork. As a global resaerch center, it also has collaborations with research institutes, as well as clinical and industry partners around the world. Curam’s primary research focus is the development of medical devices to better understand and to help deliver and/or personalize therapeutics to treat chronic conditions such as cardiovascular, respiratory, and neural diseases. At Curam, medical devices in development include cell and biomaterial based systems for various uses such as drug delivery vehicles, in vitro models, and implants.
In my research project, I am working to develop a 3-D. spheroid model to better understand how triple negative breast cancer tumors function.
