During my research stay in Dr. Calvin Kuo’s laboratory at Stanford University, I received advanced training in patient-derived tumour models that preserve the tumour microenvironment. I learned how to establish and maintain Air-Liquid Interface Systems (ALIS) from multiple tumour types, including colorectal, pancreatic, and renal cancers. In addition, I acquired expertise in processing these cultures for downstream applications such as flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq).
This stay provided me with hands-on experience in state-of-the-art technologies for studying tumour biology and anti-tumour immunity in physiologically relevant ex vivo models. The knowledge and technical skills gained will enable the implementation of these advanced tumour models in my home laboratory, expanding our capacity to investigate mechanisms of therapy response, immune regulation, and biomarker discovery in precision oncology.
Beyond the technical training, the visit established the basis for a long-term collaboration between our groups, fostering future joint research projects, knowledge exchange, and collaborative funding opportunities in the field of advanced patient-derived tumour models.
