Who We Are

Cancer, Skeletal Muscle, Fat

Alison McGuigan

Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto
Institute of Biomedical engineering, University of Toronto

Human cell and/or tissue model(s): pancreatic tumours (organoids), adipose, skeletal muscle
Human disease model(s): cancer, obesity
Cell source(s): tumour organoids, adipose derived stromal cells

Key Culture Platforms

The TRACER platform allows the assembly of 3D heterogeneous engineered tumours that can be rapidly disassembled into pseudo-2D structures for ‘snapshot’ data acquisition, allowing easy analysis and spatial mapping of cellular properties such as cell metabolism.

The MEndR phenotypic assay consists of thin sheets of human skeletal muscle tissue incorporated with skeletal muscle stem cells that is then injured to model and study the temporal kinetics of stem cell mediated skeletal muscle repair in health and disease. 

The GLAnCE platform enables formation of flat, thin, microgels containing patient organoids that can be imaged periodically over time using standard high-content widefield microscopy to quantify tumour growth, tumour invasiveness and tumour cell regrowth after drug treatment.

The SPOT platform, available in 96- or 384-well formats, enables formation of a flat, thin scaffold-reinforced microgel containing patient derived organoids or adipose cells that can be imaged or assessed using metabolic assays periodically over to quantify tumour growth, and tumour cell response to therapy and tumour cell regrowth after therapy. The platform is highly scalable and has been integrated with liquid handling robots for tissue manufacturing and downstream sample analysis.

Lung

Amy Wong

Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids)
Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto

Human cell and/or tissue model(s): lung
Human disease model(s): cystic fibrosis, COVID, other pulmonary genetic disorders
Cell source(s): primary, iPSC

Key Culture Platforms

Region-specific lung organoids are created by (1) differentiating induced pluripotent stem cells in the presence of inducing factors over a period of weeks to model human lung development and disease or; (2) isolating single stem cells from primary tissues and culturing them in conditions favouring self-expansion and organization.

Brain, Cancer, Neuromuscular

Carol Schuurmans

Sunnybrook Research Institute
Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto

Human cell and/or tissue model(s): cerebral tissue, neurons, astrocytes
Human disease model(s): ALS, dementia, brain cancer
Cell source(s): iPSC, oligodendroglioma patient cells

Key Culture Platforms

The CEREBRAL ORGANOID platform allows oligodendroglioma brain tumor growth to be assessed in a 3D human cellular context. It also allows for the characterization of pathological disease mechanisms associated with neurodegenerative diseases using state-of-the-art assays of metabolism, neural activity, and cell lineage tracing.

Brain, Spinal Cord

Cindi Morshead

Department of Surgery, Division of Anatomy, University of Toronto
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto
Donnelly Centre

Human cell and/or tissue model(s): neural
Human disease model(s): brain injury (specifically related to neuronal cell death)
Cell source(s): iPSC, ESC

Key Culture Platforms

Cerebral organoids are generated over weeks to months, using iPSCs and ESCs, and then exposed to toxins/factors that induce neuronal cell death to mimic brain injury.

Eye, Brain, Pancreas

Derek van der Kooy

Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto
Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto
Donnelly Centre

Human cell and/or tissue model(s): retinal stem cells, brain stem cells, pancreatic stem cells
Human disease model(s): diabetes, retinal degeneration
Cell source(s): primary, iPSC, ESC

Key Culture Platforms

Primary and iPSC-derived retinal stem cells, neural stem cells and pancreatic stem cells. Retinal and cerebral organoids from ESCs and iPSCs.

Lung

Golnaz Karoubi

Scientist, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network
Assistant Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto

Human cell and/or tissue model(s): human airway proximal and distal epithelial cells
Human disease model(s): fibrosis, aging, airway injury
Cell source(s): primary, iPSC, immortalized

Key Culture Platforms

Lung Bioreactor Systems – Dynamic Lung bioreactor systems are used to maintain lung tissue in ex vivo culture for prolonged periods allowing for modelling of pulmonary fibrosis and ventilator-induced lung injury.

Airway Epithelial Patches – Hydrogel-based airway epithelial patches are composed of silk-fibroin based hydrogel coated with collagen vitrigel membrane supporting proximal airway epithelial cells used to model proximal airways.

Alveolus on Chip System – The alveolus on chip system consists of hemispherical dimples of physiologically relevant size mimicking the human alveolus. The system allows for dynamic cyclical stretch used to model breathing and ventilator-induced lung injury. 

Pancreas

Jonathan V. Rocheleau

Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto  
Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network
Department of Physiology, University of Toronto
Banting and Best Diabetes Research Center, University of Toronto

Human cell and/or tissue model(s): pancreatic islets
Human disease model(s): type 2 diabetes
Cell source(s): primary islets

Key Culture Platforms

We generated islet-on-a-chip microfluidic devices that were designed (i) to induce greater mass transfer to the centre of the islet tissue in culture, (ii) to dynamically sense individual islet oxygen consumption rate, and (iii) to dynamically sense individual islet insulin secretion.

Our genetically encoded Apollo sensors are uniquely designed for multicolour ratiometric imaging. We have designed Apollo sensors to quantitatively image NADPH metabolism and ER stress in living cells.

Brain, Neuromuscular, Immune

Julien Muffat

Canada Research Chair in Synthetic Neuroimmunology and Stem Cell Bioengineering
Scientist, Neuroscience and Mental Health Program, Hospital for Sick Children
Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto
Investigator, CFREF Medicine by Design

Human cell and/or tissue model(s): neuronal cells, glial cells, tissue resident immune cells
Human disease model(s): age-related neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation (Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, Interferonopathies), childhood neurodegeneration (lysosomal storage disorders, leukodystrophies), viral encephalopathies (herpes, neuro-COVID, poliomyelitis), neurodevelopmental disorders (autism spectrum)
Cell source(s): iPSC, ESC, primary

Key Culture Platforms

Directed differentiation into the main mature cells of the human nervous system precedes reaggregation into immune-competent micro-physiological 3D constructs. A common culture medium enables the generation and co-culture of all cell types. The resulting brain and spinal cord avatars are engineered to carry relevant mutations, genetic sensors and actuators of cell fate and cell state, to dissect unexplored disease associations. Additional neuroinflammatory responses to environmental factors such as viral pathogens, oxidative stress or toxins can be investigated, and therapeutic interventions can be screened.

Brain, Kidney, Lung

Laurence Pelletier

Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System
Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto

Human cell and/or tissue model(s): lung, brain, kidney
Human disease model(s): ciliopathies
Cell source(s): ESC, iPSC, primary, immortalized and non-immortalized epithelial cells

Key Culture Platforms

VIVOS – We established long-term culture of 3D vascularized human Cerebral Organoids (hCOs), and other organoids, within a proprietary device called VIVOS (Vascularized In Vivo Organ System). 

APoC – We work with the Applied Organoid Core (ApOC) that is partnered with the Network Biology Collaborative Centre at LTRI. The ApOC, which is located at the Donnelly Centre and is managed by Dr. Lilliana Attisano, is currently supported by Medicine-by-Design and a Brain-Canada/Krembil platform grant. The ApOC will provide services and expertise in embryonic stem cell biology and organoid production to produce neural organoids and other organoid types.

Pancreas

Maria Cristina Nostro

McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network 
Department of Physiology, University of Toronto

Human cell and/or tissue model(s): pancreatic
Human disease model(s): diabetes
Cell source(s): ESC, iPSC

Key Culture Platforms

hPSC-directed differentiation to pancreatic cells using 2D and 3D culture conditions with and without accessory cells to support endocrine cell development and functional maturation in vitro and in vivo.

Heart, Blood Vessels, Kidney

Milica Radisic

Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto
Chemical Engineering, University of Toronto
Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network
Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health
TorontoPRIME | CRAFT | EPIC | Acceleration Consortium

Human cell and/or tissue model(s): cardiac, vasculature, kidney
Human disease model(s): cardiomyopathies, dilated, hypertrophic, ion channel disorders, fibrosis, myocarditis, endothelialitis
Cell source(s): iPSC, primary

Key Culture Platforms

Biowire (Biological wire). This platform delivers trabecula-like cardiac tissue derived from human iPSC cardiomyocytes that are matured via electrical field stimulation.  A pair of parallel 3D printed wires enabled tissue positioning and non-invasive monitoring of contractile properties. The system allows for testing of cardiac drug safety and efficacy on healthy cardiomyocytes as well as development of disease models. Using patient derived iPSC the developed disease models include fibrosis, drug induced cardiomyopathy, left ventricular hypertrophy as a result of hypertension, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as a result of myosin heavy chain and myosin binding protein C mutations, as well as dilated cardiomyopathy as a result of sodium channel mutation.

InVADE (Integrated vasculature for assessment of dynamic events). The inVADE platform provides a generic microvascular bed which is perfused by gravity driven flow. It allows for engineering of vascularized cardiac, hepatic and tumor tissues. Utility includes drug testing, studies of metastatic invasion and studies of environmental pollutant toxicity. The CL3 compatible platform enabled deployment of  SARS-CoV-2 endothelialitis and myocarditis models for studies of therapeutic efficacy and biomarker discovery.

miCRAFT (Micro architected fractal topography platform). miCRAFT provides an array of kidney glomeruli slices in a well-plate format that promote branching phenotype of glomerular podocytes to drive enhanced expression of podocyte markers for drug testing, CL3 compatible studies of viral insults, and or to study the influence of circulating factors in the serum of kidney transplant recipient patients.

Cancer, Lung, Eye

Molly Shoichet

Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto 
Donnelly Centre
Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto

Human cell and/or tissue model(s): tumour, lung, retinal
Human disease model(s): cancer, blindness, stroke
Cell source(s): primary, iPSCs, ESCs, tumour organoids, retinal organoids,

Key Culture Platforms

3D cell culture in biomimetic hydrogels allows us to screen and discover targets and drugs based on cell viability and cell invasion in tumour organoid models. The same hydrogels are useful in growing primary tumours in xenograft models without the bias of Matrigel. Separately, we’ve also developed strategies to efficiently grow human retinal organoids.

Skeletal Muscle, Neuromuscular, Adipose Tissue

Penney M. Gilbert

Canada Research Chair in Endogenous Repair
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto
Donnelly Centre
Department of Cell & Systems Biology

Human cell and/or tissue model(s): skeletal muscle, neuromuscular, adipose tissue
Human disease model(s): Duchenne muscular dystrophy, aging, ICU-acquired weakness, diabetes, myasthenia gravis, obesity
Cell source(s): primary, iPSC, ESC, immortalized

Key Culture Platforms

MEndR and IDLE are 96-well footprint phenotypic assays consisting of thin sheets of skeletal muscle tissue incorporated with skeletal muscle stem cells that are then injured to model and study the temporal kinetics of stem cell mediated skeletal muscle repair in health and disease (MEndR) or left uninjured to study niche repopulation and quiescence (IDLE). 

MyoTACTIC is a 96-well plate device to produce arrays of skeletal muscle microtissues for non-destructive analysis of function (strength, calcium handling, etc) over time in culture.

Heart, Pancreas, Blood Vessels

Sara Nunes Vasconcelos

John Kiston McIvor Endowed Chair in Diabetes Research
Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network
Associate Professor, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto
Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto

Human cell and/or tissue model(s): heart, islet of langerhans, vasculature
Human disease model(s): fibrosis, senescence, cardiomyopathies, ischemia, cardiac arrhythmias, diabetes, arterio-venous malformations
Cell source(s): primary, PSCs

Key Culture Platforms

Biowire platform consists of 3D cardiac tissues generated from human PSC-derived cardiomyocytes that can be combined with different relevant cell types and allows for the real time assessment of force or contraction.

Our microvascular perfusion device allows for the formation of human microvasculature in vitro so that vascular formation and maturation can be assessed in real time in the presence of intravascular flow.

Our vascularized heart-on-a-chip platform builds complexity and reproduces more closely the cell types and architecture of the heart by generating a perfused vasculature coupled to cardiac tissues, allowing for more complex studies and disease modeling.

Liver

Shinichiro Ogawa

McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network.
Ajmera Transplant Centre, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network  
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto

Human cell and/or tissue model(s): human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived hepatocytes, hPSC-derived cholangiocytes, hPSC-derived 3D liver organoids, hPSC derived liver tissues
Human disease model(s): liver disease
Cell source(s): ESC, iPSC

Key Culture Platforms

3D liver organoids and 3D bioengineering tissues by assembling hPSC-derived hepatocytes and cholangiocytes to model liver disease in vitro, to then apply in stem cell-based therapy to treat liver disease.

Liver

Sonya MacParland

Ajmera Transplant Centre, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network 

Human cell and/or tissue model(s): liver
Human disease model(s): autoimmune liver disease, transplant rejection
Cell source(s): primary

Key Culture Platforms

The Precision Cut Liver Slice (PCLS) platform allows the culture of 3D primary human liver tissue slices from healthy and diseased human specimens to study the impact of cell-therapy and immune reprogramming on disease processes and cell-cell interactions.

Stomach, Intestine

Tae-Hee Kim

The Hospital for Sick Children
Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto

Human cell and/or tissue model(s): stomach, intestine
Human disease model(s): gastric cancer, colon cancer and inflammatory bowel disease
Cell source(s): primary, tumor organoids

Key Culture Platforms

Primary gastric and intestinal organoid culture derived from human patients, and gut organ-on-a-chip.

Brain, Neuromuscular

Yun Li

Hospital for Sick Children
Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto

Human cell and/or tissue model(s): neural 
Human disease model(s): neurodevelopmental disorders 
Cell source(s): iPSC, ESC

Key Culture Platforms

3D neural organoids are created by aggregating and differentiating human PSCs in the presence of inducing factors to model human brain development and disease. Distinct patterning cocktails are used to induce brain-region specific organoids (e.g. cortex, hippocampus).

2D cultures of mature, homogeneous human neurons are differentiated from human PSCs using small molecules and/or transcription factors, to study diseases that impact neuronal development and function.