Science@BCRT | Matthias Lütolf

Talk

Engineering Organoids 

hosted by Ludovic Vallier

Most organoids form through poorly understood morphogenetic processes in which initially homogeneous ensembles of stem cells spontaneously self-organize in suspension or within permissive three-dimensional extracellular matrices. Yet, the absence of virtually any predefined patterning influences such as morphogen gradients or mechanical cues results in an extensive heterogeneity. Moreover, the current mismatch in shape, size and lifespan between native organs and their in vitro counterparts hinders their even wider applicability. In this talk I will discuss some of our ongoing efforts in developing next-generation organoids that are assembled by guiding cell-intrinsic self-patterning through engineered stem cell microenvironments. He will also present recent examples of how we are using these engineered organoids for disease modeling, in particular in the area of solid tumors.

About the Speaker

Matthias Lütolf is a professor at the Institute of Bioengineering at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland. His academic path began at ETH Zurich, where he studied materials engineering and earned a PhD in biomedical engineering. After completing postdoctoral studies at Stanford University, he started his own laboratory at EPFL in 2007. He also had the privilege of serving as the director of EPFL’s Institute of Bioengineering from 2014 to 2018. In addition to his academic work, Lutolf is the founding director of Roche’s new Institute of Human Biology (IHB), where he leads the Translational Bioengineering department. His research focuses on developing cutting-edge bioengineering approaches to create more reproducible and physiologically relevant organoids, which are important for advancing early drug development and improving methods for studying human biology. His teams’ work has been published in renowned journals such as Nature and Science. Additionally, his innovations have led to the commercialization of products, including devices and assays for personalized medicine, and the co-founding of biotech startups.