Track 3: Cell-based assays using complex cellular systems

Complex cellular systems including those based on human iPS lines, primary human cells or other non-human complex cellular models (e.g., plant cells) enhance the physiological relevance of the obtained assay results, albeit there are typically significant complexities associated with reagent generation and assay design. Nevertheless, primary patient derived and iPS lines, for example, are superior to established cell lines in mimicking processes in health and disease and do not bear some cell line specific artefacts (e.g., passage related loss of genetic information). Offering iPS cell-based assays will also allow the user to run chemical screens on cell types otherwise not available in significant quantities (e.g., neuronal or cardiac cell types). In addition, the use of complex systems including organoids and micro tissues will enable the user to study cell-to-cell communication in a 3D-like context more closely resembling the in vivo situation.