Events

Englander Institute for Precision Medicine Seminar Series “From Organoids to Algorithms: Translational Platforms for Precision Oncology in Solid Tumors” Presented by Marianna Kruithof-de Julio, Ph.D. Professor of Experimental Urology, Director, Cancer Translational Research Program, Director, Organoid CORE, University of Bern, CH. Biography: Marianna Kruithof-de Julio is a Professor of Experimental Urology and Director of the Cancer Translational Research Program at the University of Bern. She leads the Urology Research Laboratory and the Organoid Core Facility, developing patient-derived organoid and organ-on-chip models to better understand cancer and support therapy decisions. Her work focuses on prostate, bladder, renal, and pancreatic cancers, combining advanced technologies such as spatial transcriptomics and AI-driven histopathology with functional drug screening. In addition to her research, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of Gene and is Founder of OnconiX, committed to translating science into practical solutions that improve patient care. Abstract: The complexity of solid tumors such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and bladder cancer (BLCa) demands integrative approaches that combine biological fidelity with computational power. Here we outline a multi-modal translational framework that leverages patient-derived organoids, spatial transcriptomics, microfluidic platforms, and artificial intelligence to accelerate personalized cancer therapy development. Feasibility trials in PDAC have demonstrated the successful acquisition of high-quality biopsies for downstream applications, including organoid generation and spatial profiling. These models recapitulate key histopathological and molecular features, enabling functional drug screening and predictive modeling. AI-based classifiers trained on transcriptomic data further stratify tumors by therapeutic response, even in cases where organoid derivation is not feasible. Complementing this, the iBloC (immune Bladder-on-Chip) platform introduces a microfluidic system tailored for bladder cancer, simulating tumor-immune interactions under physiologically relevant conditions. This chip-based model supports dynamic drug testing and real-time molecular analysis, bridging the gap between preclinical research and clinical application. Together, these platforms represent a scalable and clinically relevant pipeline for precision oncology, integrating experimental and computational tools to guide individualized treatment strategies.

Englander Institute for Precision Medicine Journal Club “Quantitative Characterization of Cell Niches in Spatially Resolved Omics Data” Publushed Nature, March 2025 Presented by Isha Monga, PhD Bioinformatics Analyst, Howard Fine Lab, Weill Cornell Medicine Thursday, February 5, 2026 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET Belfer Research Building, Room 1401 https://weillcornell.zoom.us/j/92600608747 Zoom Meeting ID: 926 0060 8747