KISCO - Karolinska Institutet Stem Cell Organoid

Overview of Services

The Karolinska Institutet Stem Cell Organoids (KISCO) is a core facility that proviodes a broad repertoire of services related to 3D in vitro cell culture models (organoids) from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells (hPSC), e.g. hESC and hiPSC, and from tissue/biopsies derived adult stem cells (hASCs) to the researchers at Karolinska Institutet and other institutions.

The main goal of KISCO is, to assist researchers to harbour the potential of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) in studying complex human disease mechanisms. Our services include iPSC reprogramming, characterisation, consolidation, differentiation to desired lineage (e.g. ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm) and tissue-specific organoid generation that closely mimics the in vivo organ or tissue setting. Among new applications that have been tested and implented at our core recently, are the use of animal component free ECMs and a 12-well plate format spinning bioreactor (3D printed, autoclavable and bioinert) for long-term organoid cultivation.

KISCO also offers services on transgenic mouse embryoinic stem cells (mESC) to the same extent as for hPSCs where our core can also facilitate access to, and derivation of trangenic mESC from already available transgenic mouse embryo repositories. KISCO is equipped to conduct experiments in pre-implantation embryology and stem cell biology, and strive to offer relevant complex stem cell models to study human development and disease. KISCO operates as a core facility offering services with a strict “fee-for-service” and “firstcome-first-served” principle. The overall principle for financing the operations at KISCO is that customer fees cover costs for reagents, smaller operating investments, service agreements and KI indirect costs (INDI).

KISCO and the core services can also be found on our KI webpage https://ki.se/en/bionut/kisco-karolinska-institutet-stem-cell-organoid. A project can be initiated usually after consultation and information about the project requirements and endpoint analyses that is followed by a project plan and timeline and an order form is formally signed. The queue time for a project at KISCO will start when project has been discussed and agreed by the core facility.

Location and hours of operation

Links and Resources

1. The Karolinska Institutet Stem Cell Organoid KI website

Contacts