Developing 3D printing models of childhood and adult brain tumours

Cancers caused by primary brain and other CNS tumours form the fourth deadliest group of tumours only behind pancreatic, lung and oesophagus cancer. Glioblastoma is the most common form of malignant primary brain tumour and accounts for 50 % of cases. Unfortunately, it is also one of those with the worst prognosis. One of the reasons why glioblastoma continues to have one of the lowest survival rates today is due to the lack of more effective therapies that can pass clinical trials. To improve this situation, we need in vitro models capable of accurately predicting tumour microenvironment. To this end, new bio-printing technologies can bio-fabricate clinically relevant biomimetic tissues which can accelerate drug discovery and additionally serve as a platform for personalised medicine. In this project we will generate a series of models in which we will bio-print cells from aggressive adult and childhood brain cancers surrounded by patient-derived healthy brain cells. This will be accompanied by bionics capable of mimicking the natural microenvironment of these tumours. The project will test whether these bio-printed models can provide drug testing data with closer results to human disease than current simpler alternatives. It aims to deliver new technology and methods to study the complex biology of brain cancers and accelerate the provision of new drugs to patients.