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The Tissue Engineering Core at the Tufts Medical Center Cancer Center provides the medical and academic community with experimental in vitro and in vivo three-dimensional (3D) human tissue models.
These tissue models mimic the tissue architecture and signaling networks in human cancers. Through these 3D human tissue models, the program’s services help to meet the growing needs of Cancer Center members and academic investigators to translate basic science discoveries made in rudimentary 2D cultures to more complex tissue models, giving those discoveries greater clinical relevance.
These tissue models offer a more reliable correlation between in vitro studies and in vivo outcomes, while providing a “pre-clinical” experimental setting to screen agents that can accelerate discovery and development of potential therapeutics for clinical application.
Through the fabrication and analysis of 3D tissues, we create novel experimental paradigms that will:
We offer the following services to the medical community:
Fabrication of 3D tissues that mimic human cancer
Chemical and genetic modification of 3D tissues to identify and/or validate cellular targets
Screening potential cancer therapeutics and lead compounds for efficacy, safety and toxicity to accelerate the drug discovery in 3D tissue models that are predictive of human tissue response
Processing, Staining, Imaging, and Gene expression analysis of 3D engineered tissues
Please contact Dr. Addy Alt-Holland at 617-636-4072 to set up a meeting to discuss the specifics of the project you are interested in pursuing. At that time, a project plan will be designed and a budget generated to meet the needs of the specific application. You can also e-mail her at addy.alt_holland@tufts.edu to set up a meeting.
Culture or pellets of the cells of interest should be delivered to the Tissue Engineering Core with the medium and supplements that are needed for their growth and maintenance.
Fabrication of engineered tissues usually requires three to four weeks, but this may vary with the cell type and scaffolds used. Tissue processing for histological analysis will take an additional seven days. For special stains, an additional seven to 10 days may be required.
After completion of the research work, Dr. Alt-Holland will prepare a final report recapitulating all the project findings and the interpretation of histologic findings. This will include captured images of all the stains that were performed.
Yes, all tissue processing is performed in-house with the Core’s histology facilities in order to maintain high-quality of tissue analysis. The Tissue Engineering Core’s in-house processing and sectioning facilities ensures “one-stop shopping” for all tissue fabrication and analysis in an efficient and timely manner.
All samples are returned to the investigator as blocks of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues as well as sucrose-fixed, O.C.T. embedded tissues.
Fabrication of 3D tissue cultures is an extremely complex and multi-step process. Our expertise and experience allows it to optimize and streamline the fabrication, growth, processing and analysis of these tissues. For this reason, you are welcome to observe the fabrication and processing techniques. More active participation should be discussed with Dr. Garlick on a case-by-case basis.
No, we are able to fabricate a very broad range of 3D tissues and incorporate any cancer cell type into our 3D tissue constructs.
Yes, we have extensive, in-house experience using viral vector systems for over-expressing or knocking down target genes. This includes cell manipulation by dominant negative strategies as well as shRNA and siRNA strategies. Bring your cells to our facility we will customize them for your experimental needs.
Addy Alt-Holland, PhD, Director
Tissue Engineering Core 55 Kneeland Street Boston, MA 02111 Dr. Addy Alt-Holland Phone: 617-636-4072 Fax: 617-636-6885 addy.alt_holland@tufts.edu