Last Thursday, we were proud to host the 2024 Annual ORCAU Symposium! This year’s event brought together a diverse group of experts from different teams within the Amsterdam UMC and beyond to explore the exciting and evolving applications of organoid models in scientific research.
Keynote Highlights
The symposium began with an inspiring keynote presentation by Jessica Nelson, a renowned molecular biologist from the Institute of Cancer Research in London. She specializes in cancer biology, post-translation modifications, metabolism, and 3D organoid models. During her talk, she captivated the audience with her research on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), one of the deadliest cancers with a 5-year survival rate under 9%. Using 3D organoid models, she has advanced PDAC research by retaining tumor heterogeneity, paving the way for more accurate disease modeling.
Session Spotlight: Insight from Amsterdam UMC researchers
The keynote was followed by a simulating session featuring postdoctoral researchers and a PhD student from Amsterdam UMC.
- InĂ©s GarcĂa RodrĂguez, a postdoc researcher from OrganoVIR Labs began this session with a talk about using motor neurons and neuromuscular organoids to study emerging enteroviruses.
- Jonas Jäger, a PhD student at Skinlab, and his presentation on the cutting-edge advancements in creating vascularized in-vitro models – a crucial step in overcoming the limitations of nutrient diffusion and enhancing the functionality of tissue models for disease research and drug development.
- The session concluded with Jan Piet van Hamburg, Senior Scientist at Tas Group, who showcased the application of 3D organoid models in mimicking the synovial tissue microenvironment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Exploring Multidisciplinary Applications
The day continued with senior researchers and a series of talks that highlighted the vast potential of organoid models.
- Prof. Dr. Clara van Karnebeek from the Emma Center of Personalized Medicine on human disease modelling as an essential stepping stone to develop therapies
- Alessandra Tammaro from RIRE (renal injury and repair) group introduced the Amsterdam Excellence Center for Translational Kidney Research
- And a talk about the innovative use of human trophoblast and human placenta organoids to study pregnancy-related disorders by Gijs Afink, research associate at the Amsterdam UMC’s Laboratory of Reproductive Biology.
Building a collaborative future
At ORCAU, we believe that the key in advancing research on human diseases and biology is to enable the use of human organoids by connecting experts, training researchers, and disseminating organoid research. The symposium showcased the incredible versatility of organoid models in research about human disease. We were thrilled to see that many researchers are aligning with this mission and are so excited about future collaborations that will continue to push the boundaries of organoid research.