The OHSU Knight Cancer Institute is set to receive more than $1 million for their Knight Cancer Precision Biofabrication Hub. The facility, located at Oregon Health & Science University’s South Waterfront campus, will allow researchers to study cancer and other diseases with the help of lab-grown tissues and biofabrication methods.

The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust and the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, the OHSU School of Medicine, and Dr. Luiz Bertassoni, the director of the hub, all made contributions to the funding.

Dr. Bertassoni expressed his enthusiasm for new resources, stating, “Now we have these additional funds to equip the hub with state-of-the-art technologies…the real focus is to recreate cancer tissues using these fabrication techniques. This will let us dissect the complexities of cancers and understand the contribution of each one of these cells and tumor building blocks.”

According to OHSU, researchers working at the hub will be able to study cancer and other diseases beyond the scope of traditional animal models or cell cultures. The funding will help scientists grow miniature organs for research and for potential transplant applications, with the help of 3D-printing technologies and organoids.

Organoids are three-dimensional structures developed from adult human stem cells and closely replicate human organs. Additionally, researchers plan to use 3D printers to create bioprinted tissues, layer by layer, to emulate how cancer cells interact with other cell types. This will allow them to closely examine features typical of real tumors, such as blood vessel networks.

The facility also plans on using “organs-on-a-chip” technology, which uses microchips to simulate the structure and function of organs. Cancer researchers can use these chips to predict how tumor cells would behave within the human body.

Dr. Shelley Barton, Co-director of the Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center (CEDAR), emphasized the importance of biofabrication in early detection research. “We’d like to go even earlier and ask what cells are predisposed to developing into a tumor, what is setting them up for cancerous growth?” she said, “With biofabrication, we can get as close as possible to human tissue, and then alter different variables to understand tumor development.”

Dr. Bertassoni and his team’s work extends beyond cancer research. They have also worked on the development of a material that helps with bone regeneration. This bone replacement material can mimic the composition of native bone and be injected to stimulate the natural process of bone formation. These findings can help treat bone injuries without invasive surgery or the need to harvest bone from another part of the body.

Dr. Barton, expressed excitement for the collaboration opportunity with the Precision Biofabrication Hub stating, “This hub is an inviting opportunity for grad students and postdocs to come build an organ from the ground up.”

The expansion and additional funding for the biofabrication facility could mean a significant milestone in cancer research. With these technologies, researchers at the hub hope to propel advancements in early detection and treatment strategies for cancer.