Stemcell Technologies has received $949,500 from the Western Innovation (WINN) Initiative to develop tools and assays for three-dimensional (3D) cell culture. The project is led by Dr Steven Woodside, director of particle chemistry and engineering, and Dr Eric Jervis, principal scientist, and builds on company's extensive experience in developing culture systems and specialised cell culture media for lifescience research.

The 3D cell culture platform mirrors the environment experienced by cells in the body, and so provides an improved physiological relevance for many areas of research and drug development, including cancer research, cell therapy, drug screening, toxicity testing, and tissue/organ engineering. The development of a convenient and robust 3D culture system is critical for the advancement of research in these important fields. Studies based on 3D culture are more predictive of disease states and drug responses, and enable more mechanistically accurate modelling of the target tissue.

"We are thrilled to have received the support of the Western Innovation Initiative and are confident that the project will accelerate lifescience research and facilitate the development of novel drug formulations," said Dr Allen Eaves, CEO and president, Stemcell Technologies.