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van Weerden lab

Department                        Experimental Urology

Principal investigator      Wytske van Weerden

E-mail address                   w.vanweerden@erasmusmc.nl

Website                               www.van-weerden-lab.com

 

Characterisation of a 3D liver model for high-throughput drug screening

Suitable as a BEP? Yes

Suitable as a MEP? No

Suitable as an Academic Research Project? No

Techniques:

  • RNA isolation + qRT-PCR
  • Protein isolation + Western Blot
  • Albumin detection assay – ELISA
  • Immunohistochemistry staining
  • Imaging: bright field and immunofluorescence microscopy
  • Optional: Automated image analysis pipeline (Fiji, CellProfiler, RStudio, QuPath)

• Assessing the viability, gene/protein expression, albumin secretion, and matrix composition/remodelling of the liver model at various time points
• Goal: identify key factors for robust experimental design and establish quality control for high-throughput drug screening
• Optional: automated image analysis of liver model distribution within wells using tools such as Fiji, RStudio, or QuPath to support standardisation and reproducibility

Further reading (click to link to article)

doi:10.1039/c9lc00768g

Studying the long-term drug response of a 3D breast cancer liver metastasis model

Suitable as a BEP? No

Suitable as a MEP? Yes

Suitable as an Academic Research Project? No

Techniques:
  • Cell culture, 3D models, hydrogel work
  • Imaging: bright field and immunofluorescence microscopy
  • Semi-high throughput drug tests
  • Optional: Macrophage differentiation + Flow cytometry

• Covering different breast cancer subtypes (triple negative; ER negative/HER2 positive; ER positive/HER2 positive)
• Drug sensitivity profiling in co-cultures of cancer cells and macrophages
• Standard of Care therapy screening in breast cancer – liver metastasis model
• Assessing impact of macrophages on therapy response

Further reading (click to link to article)

doi: 10.14573/altex.1603161

Investigating metastatic niche formation and matrix remodelling in prostate/breast cancer liver metastasis using a liver-on-chip model

Suitable as a BEP? No

Suitable as a MEP? Yes

Suitable as an Academic Research Project? No

Techniques:
  • Cell culture, 3D models, hydrogel work
  • Organ-on-chip microfluidics
  • Cellular assays of cancer and liver cells assessing cell viability and proliferation
  • (Multiplex) Immunohistochemistry and subsequent Image analysis of immunofluorescence and/or confocal microscopy

• application of microfluidics to mimic invading cancer cells
• characterize long-term extracellular matrix changes during metastatic niche formation and comparison with patient samples
• study mechanisms of extracellular matrix remodelling
• Optional: Advanced image analysis to quantify matrix remodelling over time
• Optional: Study matrix remodelling during drug treatment

Further reading (click to link to article)

doi: 10.3390/cancers14041013