Inside the Organoid Services Ecosystem for Drug Discovery

This Live event, Inside the Organoid Services Ecosystem for Drug Discovery, explored how organoids are being integrated into drug discovery and translational research as human-relevant new approach methodologies (NAMs) gain traction across the biopharmaceutical industry. The Live event was moderated by Ray Dogum, Chief Editor of Drug Discovery Online, who guided the discussion and facilitated an active Q&A session with audience members throughout the event.

Dr. Srivatsan (Sri) Kidambi, Director of the NIH Standardized Organoid Modeling (SOM) Center, discussed the NIH's efforts to establish standardized, scalable, and trusted organoid frameworks that can support drug discovery, regulatory science, and clinical translation. He explained that broader industry adoption depends on reproducibility, quality standards, and the ability to generate reliable data across laboratories and service providers. Kidambi highlighted the SOM Initiative's work in developing infrastructure that could accelerate the use of organoids and other human-relevant models throughout the drug discovery process.

Dr. Lena Smirnova, Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University and the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), shared her perspective on the scientific advancements driving the field forward. She described how organoids and microphysiological systems have enabled researchers to study human biology and disease mechanisms with increasing sophistication. 

Throughout the Live event, Dogum posed questions that addressed both the scientific and practical aspects of organoid adoption, including validation, scalability, context of use, regulatory acceptance, and integration into existing drug discovery workflows. The conversation highlighted both the promise and the remaining challenges of expanding organoid use across the life sciences industry.