# Organoids Core

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER · 2024 · $120,097

## Abstract

Project Summary: Organoids Core
Multiple studies support the ability of organoids to faithfully retain the biological characteristics of the tissues from
which they are derived, thus offering a unique system for molecular target discovery and development.
Importantly, patient-derived organoids (PDOs) retain the drug responses seen in the original patient, indicating
that organoid culture conditions maintain the target profile and signaling networks of the originating tissue.
Organoids also have the advantage that they can be genetically manipulated for target modulation and can be
grown as xenografts that histologically mirror the originating normal or tumor tissue for both in vitro and in vivo
testing. Based on these strengths, an Organoid Core is proposed for Phase 2 of the CMTDD COBRE. This Core,
which builds on the success of the organoid component of the Phase 1 Target Validation Core, is specifically
designed to facilitate the use of organoids by CMTDD investigators and the wider research community.
Organoid-based research requires an established infrastructure, considerable expertise, and a substantial
commitment of time and resources; therefore, there are significant barriers to the adoption of organoid systems
by individual laboratories. By establishing organoids, as well as providing expertise, resources, reagents and
training, the Core will remove these barriers to the use of these valuable model systems. The Core currently
holds normal and tumor PDOs from colon, rectum and small intestine, liver, breast, pancreas and prostate as
well as organoids from a number of mouse models, and plans to expand to additional tissues and diseases as
demand is identified. This biobank of normal and disease organoids from multiple tissues represents a
valuable resource for the research community at large. PDOs in the Core are associated with deidentified
clinical data and will be genetically characterized, which will aid in identification of suitable models for hypothesis
testing. The utility of the model on which the Core is built is evident from our track record under Phase 1. We
have an expanding biobank of patient and mouse-derived organoids and have established techniques for genetic
manipulation (e.g., transfection, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout), drug/toxicity testing, and biochemical and
histological analysis of organoids. The core has supported research in multiple laboratories and efforts under
Phase 1 have contributed to both publications and successful grant applications. Based on the experience
gained in Phase 1, the overall goal of the Organoid Core will be to develop a large repository of extensively
characterized organoids for use by COBRE investigators and the wider research community and to lend
expertise and reagents to promote and support the use of these structures. To accomplish this goal, the
Organoid Core will coordinate with other Center Cores and CMTDD investigators to pursue three Specific Aims:
(1) To expand and further char...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10891531
- **Project number:** 5P20GM121316-07
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** ADRIAN R BLACK
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $120,097
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-03-16 → 2028-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10891531

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10891531, Organoids Core (5P20GM121316-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10891531. Licensed CC0.

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