General Mission

The “Organoids” platform of the IRSD recreates in vitro and in three dimensions mini-epithelial organs from stem cells isolated from human or murine tissues. These structures are called organoids.

We cultivate organoids derived from human colons and ileums (collections: COLIC DC-2015-2443 and currently CAPITOL No. RC31/21/0038, in collaboration with hospitals in Toulouse) from healthy, inflammatory (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis), or tumoral tissues, as well as from murine tissues.

Other cellular models, such as bladder organoids, are currently under development.

Models

• Human colorectal organoids (colon, ileum, cecum)
  • Healthy
  • Pathological
    • Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis)
    • Colorectal cancers (under development)
• Murine colorectal organoids (colon, ileum, cecum)
  • Healthy
  • Inflammatory
• Human bladder organoids (under development)

Services Offered

• Access to various biobanks established over several years (tissues, crypts, organoids)
• Training, collaboration, or service provision for organoid cultures (L2 level): culture monitoring, immunofluorescence, thawing, passaging, maintenance, and freezing
• Transcriptional and protein expression studies
• Development and implementation of experimental protocols
• Use of a high-content screening imaging system (Opera Phenix, PerkinElmer): Training, collaborations, or services available (acquisition, analysis). More.

Recently, we had the immense honor of becoming the holder of the European biobank of rectal organoids from 47 cystic fibrosis patients, thanks to the organization “Vaincre La Mucoviscidose” (VLM).

Staff

David Sagnat
Technical Manager

Astrid Canivet
Staff

Funding

The platform has been funded by the Occitanie Region and European funds through the Feder program. It has also been supported by a FUI program involving Bpifrance (Banque Publique d’Investissement), Toulouse Métropole, and the Occitanie Region. Partners of this platform include Urosphère, Chromalys, and the Hospitals of Toulouse. Equipment was obtained with financial support from the Fondation Bettencourt-Schueller through the “Coup d’élan pour la recherche” program.

Certifications and Network

Since 2023, the organoids platform has been labeled IBISA (Infrastructures en Biologie, Santé et Agronomie, https://www.ibisa.net/). This certification considers the platform’s openness to academic laboratories and private companies, training, technological advancements, and the identification of dedicated personnel with a quality management approach.

It has also been part of the Toulouse Imaging Network (TRI) since 2023, with its high-content screening confocal microscope (Opera Phenix) integrated into this network.

You can also find the organoids platform on LabConnect (https://lab-connect.univ-toulouse.fr/).