Hans Clevers - 2024 Kafatos Lecture

Hans Clevers presents “Organoids: Avatars of human organs in health and disease" Hans Clevers has made transformational contributions to medical research through his pioneering work in the field of organoids—miniature, 3D structures grown in the lab that closely resemble real human organs, such as the intestine, liver, or brain. His groundbreaking research has opened new avenues for understanding human biology and disease. Clevers’ breakthrough came when he discovered a way to grow intestinal stem cells outside the body and coax them to form “mini-guts”—organoids that replicate the structure and function of the human intestine. This major advance has allowed researchers to study human tissues in a dish, rather than relying on animal models or limited human samples. This has significant implications for safe and humane testing of new drugs and personalised medicine approaches, where organoids are grown from a patient’s own cells. In addition to his academic work, Clevers has co-founded several successful spin-off companies. The application of organoid technology for drug development and personalised medicine is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years, as their potential to address pressing medical needs appears ever-expanding. In EMBL’s third annual Kafatos Lecture on Friday 4 October, Hans Clevers shared the fascinating story of his influential life’s work using striking visual aids. His talk explored the development and potential of organoids and explained how his research revolutionised the study of human tissues in health and disease. Clevers’ lecture delved into the applications of organoids in drug testing and personalised medicine, showcasing their ability to provide safe, humane testing methods and tailored treatments. Drawing on his career in both research and industry, Clevers highlighted the extraordinary creativity and dedication that have driven the work of the students, technicians and postdocs in his research lab. Attendees gained insights into how organoids are used to study and develop treatments for diseases like cancer in realistic settings, opening up new frontiers in biomedicine. Special thanks to the Bodossaki Foundation for making this possible. Credits Audiovisual: EMBL Photolab Design: EMBL Creative Team