Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine
Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine

Personalized Tumor Therapy

Our Services

Precision medicine requires highly sensitive molecular and functional assays that enable the stratification of patients and the development of personalized treatments.

Based on our access to specifically recruited primary patient material, we leverage cutting-edge technologies to conduct tailored biomarker research and drug development.

We are excited to collaborate with you to create customized biomarker, drug development, and data studies that align with your research questions and specific indications.  

 

© Fraunhofer ITEM, Patrick Reinig

TRILO: Biomarker discovery in small cell populations down to single cells

Our therapy response identification through low input Omics (TRILO) platform focusses on multi-omics analyses of patient material for biomarker research and patient stratification studies. 

TRILO
 

© Fraunhofer ITEM

PEDRA: Preclinical drug efficacy testing in patient-derived samples

With our patient-derived ex vivo drug response assay (PEDRA) platform, we offer functional efficacy testing of drugs on primary patient material including the tumor microenvironment. 

PEDRA
 

© Fraunhofer ITEM, Nick Neufeld

Clinical Translation and Clinical Data Analysis

With our unique access to clinical data alongside experimental molecular and functional insights, we provide data integration, evaluation, and biostatistical processing.

Clinical Translation

Our method portfolio: Cancer research using patient samples and clinical data

From molecular analysis of rare cancer cell populations to development of novel anti-cancer drugs.

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Access to patient samples

  • Extensive clinical network: integration in clinical study groups and access to key opinion leaders
  • Custom recruitment of primary patient material through our clinical network
    • Different tumor entities, stages, treatment resistances etc
    • Metastatic tissue, malignant effusions and primary tumors including tumor microenvironment
    • Liquid biopsy: blood, bone marrow and cerebrospinal fluid (disseminated and circulating tumor cells, ctDNA, and tumor exosomes)
    • FFPE material
    • Longitudinal sampling/follow-up information
  • GDPR-compliant access
  • Sample logistics workflows for different organ types and analyses
Person in a lab coat holding an illustrated blue hologram.
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Cell sorting and isolation

  • Enrichment and isolation of single cells:
    • Marker-dependent: CELLSEARCH® , fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS)
    • Marker-independent: Microfluidics (Parsortix), leukocyte depletion
    • Micromanipulation, single-cell printing, automated dielectrophoretic placement (DEPArray™ PLUS)
  • Analysis of cellular subpopulations in tissue (Tissue disaggregation, DEPArray™ PLUS)
Illustration of a liquid biopsy with blood cells.
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Preclinical in vitro and ex vivo models

  • Personalized preclinical models from cancer patient samples including biopsies, malignant effusions, circulating tumor cells
  • Ready-to-use models from disseminated and circulating tumor cells (DTC, CTC) of various tumor origins
  • Functional testing of drug candidates (small molecule compounds, RNA therapeutics, PPI modulators, CPI, ADC, oncolytic viruses) on primary patient material with various readouts:
    • Immunostaining/cell painting with bioinformatic analysis
    • Live-cell analyses (Incucyte® Live Cell Imager)
    • Multiplex flow cytometry analysis and cell sorting
    • Viability and cytokine release assays
    • Omics methods
Graphic of a pink cancer cell.
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Access to patient samples

  • DNA analysis (down to single cells):
    • Deterministic whole genome amplification (WGA)
    • Chromosomal copy number alterations (CNAs)
    • Whole exome & whole genome sequencing
    • Panel sequencing (50- >500 cancer-relevant genes)
    • Minimization of false positive mutations (error-free sequencing)
  • Transcriptome analysis (down to single cells):
    • 10X Genomics technology
    • Transcriptome sequencing
  • Long-read sequencing using PromethION® and MinION® Oxford Nanopore sequencers:
    • Direct RNA sequencing
    • Whole genome sequencing
    • Methylation status of sequenced DNA
  • miRNA sequencing
  • Automated and miniaturized workflows (using Beckman Coulter Echo® and Biomek® liquid handling systems)
Illustration of a DNA molecule.
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Bioinformatics & Data Analyses

  • Bioinformatic analysis and visualization of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) data
  • Processing and analysis of imaging data
  • Integration and evaluation of molecular biology, functional and clinical data
  • Biostatistical processing
  • Expertise in clinical context
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DIN ISO 9001:2015 certification assures high quality standards

ITEM is DIN ISO 9001:2015 certified

The division “Personalized Tumor Therapy” of Fraunhofer ITEM in Regensburg is certified by TÜV Süd according to DIN ISO 9001:2015.

We are dedicated to improving customer satisfaction through effective quality management practices and continuous improvement