New technologies allow us to grow cancer cells from patients with high efficiency as 3D cellular structures or tumoroids in the lab. It has become clear that these tumoroids retain the characteristics of the tumor they are derived from and have the potential to be used for functional precision medicine. The high potential of these models is often diminished by the use of rudimentary read-outs that only offer limited information because researchers do not have access to advanced infrastructure or know-how. The TUSC lab aims to facilitate the implementation of patient-derived tumoroids by offering the following services to cancer researchers:
- Processing of tumor biopsies and resection fragments into tumoroids for preclinical and clinical applications.
- βEstablishing a patient-derived tumoroid biobank for multiple tumor types and making it available to academic cancer researchers.
- Development of micro-tumors that incorporate the tumor microenvironment.
- Access to our advanced AI image analysis software Orbits (). We can also offer custom-made image analysis modules.
- High-throughput live-cell imaging-based drug screening for preclinical and clinical applications.
Team leader
Prof. Dr. Christophe Debenβ
Associated promotors (alphabetically)
Prof. dr. Winnok De Vosβ
βProf. dr. Jeroen Hendriksβ
βProf. dr. Niels Komenβ
βProf. dr. Filip Lardonβ
βDr. Abraham Linβ
Dr. Michiel de Maat
βProf. dr. Marc Peetersβ
βProf. dr. Hans Prenenβ
βDr. Geert Roeyenβ
βProf. dr. Evelien Smitsβ
βProf. Dr. Timon Vandammeβ
βProf. dr. Steve Vanlanduitβ
βProf. dr. An Woutersβ
PhD students
βEdgar CardenasββΆΔ
βLaura Gehrckenβ
βOdeta Islamβ
βMaxim Le Compteβ
βSofie Seghersβ
Lab technicians
βFelicia Rodrigues Fortesβ
βChristophe Hermansβ