PROJECT 1: CAR-T Potency Assay

Test-Bed Involved: CAR-T Cells

This project will develop a vascularized tumor-on-a-chip model mimicking the immunosuppressive microenvironment of tumors for measuring physiologically relevant potency of CAR-T cells and combinatorial therapies. It is imperative that T cell potencies are tested under such physiologically relevant conditions, as opposed to suspension cultures with tumor cells alone. Such an on-chip system also allows testing of potency under combinatorial therapy regimes.

Aim 1: Develop two on-chip models: one with a central vascular channel surrounded by a tumor and one with a tumor model with distributed vascular model.

Aim 2: Test therapeutic potency of CAR-T cells, either as a monotherapy or as combination therapies using the model from Aim 1.