Gurdon Institute Centre Renewal

The Gurdon Institute is expanding its study of how cells divide, specialise, and maintain their genomes, using miniature lab-grown human organs called organoids to bridge normal development and cancer. Why this matters: Most cancer research has relied on animal models or flat cell cultures that poorly mimic human tissues. Organoids—three-dimensional clusters of cells that self-organise into structures resembling real organs—offer a more accurate window into how tumours arise and evolve. The Institute also plans to apply quantitative analysis, using next-generation sequencing and advanced imaging, to track cellular behaviour at molecular, cellular, and tissue scales. This fills a gap between descriptive biology and the kind of precise, predictive understanding needed to design better therapies. Potential impact: If successful, this work could accelerate the development of patient-specific cancer treatments. Organoids grown from a patient’s own stem cells could be used to test drug responses before treatment begins, reducing trial-and-error prescribing. The planned Milner Institute will create a platform for pharmaceutical companies to collaborate directly on these disease models, shortening the path from lab discovery to clinical trial. While much of the research is fundamental—asking how cells decide their fate or repair their DNA—past work in developmental biology has repeatedly led to unexpected breakthroughs in cancer therapy, such as drugs that target cell division machinery.