2022 James W. Freston Conference: Gastrointestinal Organoids and Engineered Organ Systems - PROJECT SUMMARY
This application requests support for an American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) James W. Freston
Single Topic Conference entitled “Gastrointestinal Organoids and Engineered Organ Systems” to be held in
Washington D.C. in October 2022. NIH funds will be used to support travel awards for trainees and young
investigators to attend, present their science and interact with experts in the field, with the ultimate expectation
that these interactions will lead to new scientific collaborations and strategies to advance gastroenterology
research. This conference addresses a need in the biomedical and pharmaceutical communities for more
relevant human GI cell-based in vitro model systems. For decades, GI studies have relied nearly exclusively on
human cancer cell lines and animal models, which has limited understanding of human GI biology and disease.
The recent development of innovative GI organoid and engineered tissue models now allows the use of more
relevant human cell-based systems. This conference will bring together experts in GI organ cell and
developmental biology and disease pathology, with leading bioengineers and tissue-chip developers to
enhance the use of human organoid/tissue engineered platforms and foster broad and rapid adoption by the GI
research community. The conference includes invited expert speakers representing divergent GI organoid
models and engineered tissue approaches, oral presentations from trainees and young investigators to be
selected from submitted abstracts, and poster presentations based on abstract submissions. The small size
and program details will provide numerous opportunities for young investigator/trainees to interact with
established experts. The GOALS of the conference are: 1) To present new and emerging biological insights
into GI homeostasis and disease, and state-of-the-art methodologies to engineer in vitro GI organ systems; 2)
To increase scientific dialogue and provide opportunities for scientific collaboration between GI physicians, cell
biologists, and bioengineers to improve the reliability of existing approaches and apply them in novel ways to
study human GI tissue biology or model GI diseases; 3) To increase the interaction of hepatobiliary,
pancreatic, and luminal GI scientists and improve cross-fertilization of approaches and methodologies between
these groups; 4) To provide opportunities for trainees and early stage investigators to present their research
and network with established investigators; and 5) To facilitate the adoption of novel human culture systems
and innovative platforms and analytic technologies by GI disease investigators. A final session will assemble
an expert panel to make consensus recommendations on approaches to enhance the development of GI
organoids and engineered organ systems for research and discovery applications.
