InSphero helps researchers translate complex biological questions into human-relevant spheroid and organoid models tailored to their research questions, assay requirements, and therapeutic programs. From feasibility assessment and model optimization to characterization and project-specific workflow development, our experts guide each project from initial concept to a reproducible, well-characterized, and fit-for-purpose 3D in vitro model.
Drug discovery increasingly requires preclinical models that more closely reflect human tissue biology and physiologically relevant responses. Developing robust 3D in vitro models internally, however, demands extensive optimization before they can generate reliable, decision-relevant data.
Custom 3D model development brings together the right cell or tissue source, spheroid or organoid format, biological complexity, disease phenotype, and analytical endpoints to create a 3D assay workflow tailored to a specific research application.
Working as an extension of your scientific team, InSphero develops reproducible and scalable 3D in vitro spheroid and organoid models for efficacy testing, safety assessment, disease modeling, and translational research. Engage with us from an early concept or co-develop a human-relevant model around your biology, assay requirements, and therapeutic program.
InSphero combines deep expertise in spheroid and organoid model development with proprietary technologies designed to improve reproducibility, scalability, and integration into drug discovery workflows.
Our capabilities are built on two complementary 3D cell culture platforms:
With expertise across both Akura™ and Gri3D® technologies, our expert team help researchers select the most appropriate model format and level of biological complexity for each application. Whether your project requires a robust spheroid assay or a more complex organoid model, we develop fit-for-purpose 3D workflows tailored to your biological questions and drug discovery workflow requirements.
Understand the differences between spheroids and organoids
of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies are active customers
Healthy-tissue and disease model areas explored
Spheroids and organoids produced every month
Peer-reviewed publications
Every project can enter the workflow at a different stage – from early feasibility to optimization of an established model. Our experts work with your team to custom-develop or co-develop the model toward the level of characterization, reproducibility, and assay performance your program requires.
Define your research question, intended application, and assay requirements together with our experts. We assess the biological and technical needs of the project and design a tailored spheroid or organoid workflow aligned with your drug discovery objectives.
Establish and optimize the spheroid or organoid model through iterative testing of defined culture parameters. Throughout development, our experts monitor tissue formation, growth, phenotypic stability and tissue-specific functionality for robust and reproducible performance. Where applicable, tissues and cells are cryopreserved to establish a reliable biobank for future studies.
Validate the optimized model against predefined biological and technical quality-control criteria. Using fit-for-purpose analytical readouts, our experts confirm model identity, morphology, phenotype, functional performance, and reproducibility before downstream application.
Apply the validated model within your drug discovery workflow. Depending on the project scope, InSphero can deliver assay-ready spheroids or organoids for implementation in your laboratory or conduct in-house, scalable testing for safety assessment, efficacy evaluation, disease modeling, and translational research.
Every drug discovery question requires a different level of biological complexity. InSphero supports the development of custom spheroid and organoid models aligned with your therapeutic program and study objectives.
Choose biologically relevant starting material that reflects the tissue, patient population, or disease context required for your study.
Build the cellular and microenvironmental complexity required to reproduce relevant tissue biology.
Introduce disease-relevant conditions to reproduce specific mechanisms, phenotypes, or treatment responses.
Integrate fit-for-purpose readouts to characterize the model performance and quantify biological or treatment response.
Ready to define the model your program needs?
InSphero has experience developing human-relevant spheroid and organoid models across healthy tissues and disease indications. Our portfolio spans 3D in vitro models at different stages of maturity – from exploratory concepts to fully characterized in vitro models – with opportunities to customize or co-develop 3D in vitro models around your specific biological and assay requirements.
Maturity reflects the current internal development stage of each model.
Various bio-banked donors available for selected models.
Don’t See the Model You Need? Start from a new concept or co-develop a promising model for your therapeutic application.
Start from a concept, or co-develop with our team
Explore examples demonstrating how tailored spheroid and organoid models can address specific challenges in efficacy testing, safety assessment, disease modeling, immuno-oncology, therapeutic delivery, and translational research.
Engineered mini-intestines recreate key features of intestinal organization, enabling research into intestinal homeostasis, regeneration, tissue injury, and host–microorganism interactions.
Patient-derived rectal organoids provide a functional in vitro model for measuring CFTR activity and evaluating responsiveness to CFTR modulators. This approach can support precision treatment decisions for patients carrying rare cystic fibrosis variants.
Standardized microcavity-based culture enables controlled formation and scalable analysis of colon and colorectal cancer organoids. The workflow supports automated handling, longitudinal monitoring, high-content imaging, and compound-response studies.
Multicellular blood–brain barrier organoid model enables assessment of barrier properties and receptor-mediated antibody transcytosis, supporting the development of biologics and delivery technologies targeting the central nervous system.
Patient-derived rhabdomyosarcoma organoids preserve molecular characteristics and inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity. Their long-term expansion supports longitudinal efficacy studies and the identification of promising drug combinations.
Multicellular tumor spheroids combine cancer and stromal cells to model tumor–microenvironment interactions and differentiate anticancer efficacy from off-target stromal toxicity in screening workflows.
Primary human islet spheroids model type 1 diabetes–related β-cell dysfunction and immune-mediated injury, supporting mechanistic studies and therapeutic evaluation through functional readouts such as insulin secretion and immune responses.
Human retinal pigment epithelium microtissue model fibrosis-associated morphological changes. Combined with label-free imaging and machine learning, this approach enables scalable screening of anti-fibrotic compounds for ocular drug discovery.
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