3D multicellular organoid cultures of endometrium for precision medicine

Human endometrium is the lining of the uterus that is shed every month during menstruation and regrows nearly a centimetre of tissue. The processes are not well understood in health or diseases such as endometriosis, where endometrium-like tissue grows outside the uterus . New 3D organoid methods have been developed to culture human endometrial epithelium that was not previously possible, generating mini endometrial organs. These can be used for experimental studies and for testing drugs for endometrial disorders such as endometriosis. However, endometrial epithelial cell crosstalk with the stromal cells is critical to epithelial functioning. This project is to develop 3D co-cultures of endometrial epithelial cells and stromal cells and potentially mesothelial cells that may have a role in endometriosis for drug screening. Techniques include 3D tissue culture, co-culture and drug screening, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence.