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Microgravity for Personalised Medicine (M4PM) is a program focused on 3D Tumour, Organoid and Spheroid growth in microgravity to enable the development of space-based Personalised Medicine. Led by Space Applications Services and co-financed by the European Space Agency, the project aims to create both a technical model as well as a business model that replicates and enhances traditional terrestrial ones.
It is generally recognised within the research community that the optimisation and widespread implementation of 3D cell culture in vitro systems will revolutionise the drug development testing industry as a whole, by replacing in vivo models as the gold standard. 3D organoids and spheroids are currently grown through the utilisation of primary human tissue or pluripotent stem cells. These models exhibit multicellular self organisation and organ functionality, are capable of self renewal, and can remain stable for extended periods of time during cultivation.
However, many of the obstacles facing the development of 3D cell culturing platforms for drug discovery testing can be traced back to one issue: gravity. Using space to solve problems related to (personalised/precision) medicine testing and discovery can be very effective not only with developing personalised (cancer) treatments, but also in increasing the rate of drug approval by using more relevant and realistic models than insufficient and inadequate (terrestrial) in vitro assays utilizing two-dimensional monolayers of (cancer) cells and animal models.
Co-funded by ESA, M4PM aims to leverage microgravity to create 3D tumor, organoid, and spheroid models for advancing in-space drug screening, development and testing, disease modelling, regenerative medicine, personalised and precision medicine. In November 2024, the project entered Phase 2, with an innovative research platform and demo mission set for launch to the International Space Station in 2026. Its first mission will focus on Parkinson’s disease, with OrganoTherapeutics SARL as the pilot customer, studying midbrain organoids, their goal being to develop a more accurate disease model and uncover new treatment insights.
After the demo mission, M4PM will continue supporting research aboard the ISS, aiming to establish a commercial space platform for disease modelling, drug testing, and bio-manufacturing. This will help biotech companies, universities and researchers drive real-world medical breakthroughs.
In view of stimulating conversations and collaborations in this emerging research field, a community was set up as part of the M4PM project. The “Tumours, Organoids and Spheroids in Space – Microgravity for Personalized Medicine (M4PM)” Community is comprised of member companies and academics that currently grow and utilise tumours, organoids, spheroids in pursuit of (personalised/precision) medicine (terrestrially). The community was initiated to bring together thought leaders in industry and academia to solve problems and advance personalised medicine through innovations in microgravity.
Stay tuned for updates on the progress.
Image credits: Wyss Institute (Kidney Organoid)
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Key thought leaders engaged in the M4PM Community