The Nanomedicine Research Group is a part of the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, India. Dr. Prajakta Dandekar Jain and Dr. Ratnesh Jain established this group in 2013 to promote breakthrough technologies for research scholars and graduates in their respective fields. 

The aim of this program, “Advances in 3D Cell Culture” was to understand the current research and technologies being developed in this area in India and across the world.  The aim was to spread knowledge about cutting-edge technologies to accelerate drug development research and reduce or replace animal models.   

Cell culture is routinely practiced in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences, and life-science industry. Over the past few years, 3D cell culture methods have gained increasing interest for their applications in tissue engineering and drug development. Moreover, 3D cell culture has benefits over conventional animal models due to lower ethical concerns and tediousness. 

In the 3D cell culture workshop and conference that was conducted from January 29- February 3, 2024, the participants gained insights into the novel developments in the broader discipline of 3D cell culture. Attendees had the opportunity to network with experts, gain insight into how the startup and industry are utilizing 3D cell culture technologies to accelerate research and development, and discuss the potential of in vitro cell culture models in replacing animal models. Additionally, attendees had the opportunity to gain knowledge about developments in artificial organ engineering with special focus on organoids and spheroids, organ-on-chip, 3D bioprinting, regulatory guidelines for alternatives to animal testing methods. The larger goal was to fuel collaborations between different researchers working in this area, streamline and harmonize their efforts, and improve the preparedness of our country in adopting such models for biological, preclinical and toxicological research. The event took place with great success and collaborations!