Bacteria Research

We have been developing products utilizing various bacterial strains and have explored multiple methods to evaluate the efficacy of our developed strains. However, due to the nature of obligate anaerobic bacteria, there were significant limitations in applying conventional in vitro efficacy evaluation methods.

To overcome these challenges, we explored different testing approaches and discovered the ODISEI platform. Through this platform, we confirmed that organoids enable the effective analysis of obligate anaerobic bacteria, which was previously difficult with standard methods. Using this platform, we successfully conducted functional evaluations of various bacterial strains and were able to identify the optimal strains for further development.

Advancing K-Beauty with Skin Organoids: A Next-Generation Platform for Non-Animal Testing and High-Precision Cosmetic Innovation

With the global rise of K-beauty, the cosmetics industry continues to grow steadily. Since the ban on animal testing for cosmetics in Korea in 2017, various alternative testing methods have been adopted. However, many of these approaches have limitations in replicating the complexity of human skin physiology.

The emergence of skin organoids has provided a breakthrough, enabling more accurate and diverse efficacy evaluations, particularly in areas such as hair growth, hair loss prevention, and skin barrier function, which were difficult to assess using conventional in vitro methods. Unlike traditional workflows, where candidate ingredients are selected and directly tested through limited 2D models or clinical approaches, skin organoids now allow for preclinical-level validation in a highly reproducible and biologically relevant 3D system. This enables more precise screening and accelerates the selection of effective cosmetic actives.

Through the use of skin organoids from Lambda Biologics, we have established a robust platform to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate complex skin responses, including barrier integrity, scalp health, and follicular activity. Leveraging this platform, we are enhancing the scientific basis and reliability of our product development pipeline.

Moving forward, we plan to further expand the application of skin organoids to discover high-performance cosmetic ingredients and strengthen our global competitiveness by aligning with next-generation non-animal testing standards.

Traditional microscopy methods often require fluorescent labeling to analyze cellular structures, which can be time-consuming and invasive. In contrast, our HT-X1 system allows for high-resolution visualization of cellular morphology without the need for any labeling, offering a clear advantage in live-cell imaging. To validate this capability, we conducted an organoid-based analysis using intestinal organoids.

Among various organoid types, intestinal organoids are known to closely replicate the functional structure of the gut, comprising intestinal stem cells, enterocytes, tuft cells, goblet cells, and cytoskeletal components.

In this study, we induced Leaky Gut Syndrome (LGS) by treating the intestinal organoids with LPS and then applied candidate therapeutic compounds. The morphological changes related to epithelial barrier recovery were captured and quantified using the HT-X1 system.

Furthermore, we evaluated the real-time adhesion of probiotic strains to the intestinal epithelial cells, enabling the functional characterization of the epithelial layer. This approach supported disease modeling and efficacy testing, particularly for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and autoimmune-related conditions.

Overall, HT-X1 demonstrated its capability as a non-invasive, label-free imaging solution for analyzing complex 3D cell models. It holds strong potential as a next-generation platform for drug efficacy screening and functional cellular analysis, especially in advanced organoid-based research

Traditional protein analysis has primarily focused on quantifying expression levels within tissue samples. However, recent advances in spatial analysis techniques have shifted attention toward evaluating not only expression levels, but also the spatial distribution, density, and proximity between proteins.

While this approach is already widely adopted in international research, it remains relatively underutilized in Korea, making it challenging to apply in domestic studies.

Thanks to Lambda Biologics, which became the first in Korea to offer spatial analysis services, we were able to conduct a detailed investigation of specific markers using valuable patient-derived tissue samples, and also received comprehensive support in interpreting the results.

We were highly satisfied with the service, and I would gladly recommend it to other researchers in our collaborative network. I believe this will contribute meaningfully to the advancement of clinical pathology and precision medicine research.

Among the many fermented foods we consume, kimchi is particularly known for containing a diverse range of lactic acid bacteria, which are believed to influence the activation of immune cells in the body.

In our research institute, we successfully isolated a bacterial strain that appears to enhance immune cell function. To evaluate its effect in the intestinal environment, we utilized the ODISEI-Gut platform.

Using this platform, we investigated how the strain behaves under disease-induced conditions and observed its role in modulating the gut environment. Based on these results, we plan to use the platform for the efficacy evaluation of additional isolated strains in future studies.

We conducted a study focused on identifying disease-related markers using patient-derived tissue samples. However, traditional methods limited our ability to analyze multiple candidate markers simultaneously, and the limited availability of clinical samples posed a consistent challenge. By utilizing Lambda Biologics’ Multiplex Marker Analysis service, we were able to detect the expression of 31 markers on a single slide, enabling more comprehensive analysis while conserving precious tissue samples. This significantly enhanced the efficiency and depth of our research. Based on these results, our findings were published in the international journal International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology. (DOI: 10.1002/alr.23460)

Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. It is a malignant solid tumor characterized by poor prognosis due to difficulties in early diagnosis and its rapid progression. Unlike many other solid tumors that primarily metastasize via lymphatic or hematogenous routes, gastric cancer most commonly spreads through the peritoneum. Peritoneal metastasis is associated with particularly poor outcomes and marked resistance to treatment, highlighting the urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies.

Gastric cancer exhibits diverse pathological subtypes and a complex tumor microenvironment (TME), which significantly affects drug permeability, immune responsiveness, and resistance to chemotherapy. As such, conventional two-dimensional (2D) cell lines or xenograft models are often insufficient to capture these intricate features, limiting their ability to accurately predict therapeutic responses in real patients.

To address these clinical limitations, Lambda Biologics has developed a precision drug evaluation platform based on three-dimensional (3D) gastric cancer organoids derived from patient tumor tissues. This platform accurately reflects the unique tumor characteristics and microenvironments of individual patients. Notably, it incorporates a co-culture system in which tumor cells are cultured alongside various stromal and immune cells, effectively reconstructing the native TME.

This advanced system enables comprehensive assessments of drug penetration, resistance mechanisms, and immune response within a physiologically relevant model. Unlike traditional models, it provides a closer approximation of actual clinical conditions, allowing for more precise evaluation of drug efficacy and safety. Lambda Biologics’ gastric cancer organoid platform ultimately aims to accelerate the development of novel therapeutics and support the implementation of personalized treatment strategies for highly heterogeneous cancers such as gastric cancer.

Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers among women worldwide. It is a complex and heterogeneous disease, with its progression and treatment response varying significantly depending on factors such as hormone receptor status, HER2 expression, and genetic background. Breast cancer is typically classified based on the expression of three major biomarkers: estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), and HER2. Among these, tumors that do not express any of the three markers are classified as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). TNBC is known for its poor prognosis and lack of effective targeted therapies, making it one of the most difficult subtypes to treat and a critical target for novel drug development.

As a result, many pharmaceutical companies are currently focusing on the development of new therapies targeting TNBC. To accelerate the evaluation of these candidate drugs, it has become essential to establish patient-derived breast cancer organoid models, particularly those representing TNBC. In collaboration with Lambda Biologics, we have successfully established breast cancer organoids, including TNBC-specific models. We anticipate that this platform will play a vital role in advancing precision drug development and treatment response prediction for breast cancer in the near future.

Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. It is a malignant solid tumor characterized by poor prognosis due to difficulties in early diagnosis and its rapid progression. Unlike many other solid tumors that primarily metastasize via lymphatic or hematogenous routes, gastric cancer most commonly spreads through the peritoneum. Peritoneal metastasis is associated with particularly poor outcomes and marked resistance to treatment, highlighting the urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies.

Gastric cancer exhibits diverse pathological subtypes and a complex tumor microenvironment (TME), which significantly affects drug permeability, immune responsiveness, and resistance to chemotherapy. As such, conventional two-dimensional (2D) cell lines or xenograft models are often insufficient to capture these intricate features, limiting their ability to accurately predict therapeutic responses in real patients.

To address these clinical limitations, Lambda Biologics has developed a precision drug evaluation platform based on three-dimensional (3D) gastric cancer organoids derived from patient tumor tissues. This platform accurately reflects the unique tumor characteristics and microenvironments of individual patients. Notably, it incorporates a co-culture system in which tumor cells are cultured alongside various stromal and immune cells, effectively reconstructing the native TME.

This advanced system enables comprehensive assessments of drug penetration, resistance mechanisms, and immune response within a physiologically relevant model. Unlike traditional models, it provides a closer approximation of actual clinical conditions, allowing for more precise evaluation of drug efficacy and safety. Lambda Biologics’ gastric cancer organoid platform ultimately aims to accelerate the development of novel therapeutics and support the implementation of personalized treatment strategies for highly heterogeneous cancers such as gastric cancer.

Our newly developed drug differs from previously known therapeutics in that it directly penetrates various tumor tissues to exert its efficacy. Therefore, it was essential to analyze the drug’s penetration within the tumor microenvironment. To evaluate this, we conducted permeability testing in a co-culture system of tumor organoids and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF). This approach allowed us to determine the optimal drug concentration required for effective therapeutic action.

As a result, we were not only able to assess the drug’s efficacy but also to compare the differences in penetration between various drug candidates. These findings provided valuable insights for optimizing drug formulations and overcoming the limitations of existing therapies. Thus, Lambda Biologics’s organoid co-culture platform has proven to be an effective tool for evaluating and optimizing drug penetration in the tumor microenvironment, contributing to the advancement of drug development.