At the Carlos Simon Foundation, we work to forge a better understanding of the uterine regeneration accompanying each menstrual cycle by studying the endometrium – the tissue lining the uterus. Endometrial organoids – a critical tool in this area of research – represent a groundbreaking advanced model that recapitulates specific essential characteristics of endometrial tissue in the laboratory.
What are Organoids?
Organoids are advanced three-dimensional cell culture models developed from progenitor cells, which expand and differentiate into various cell types. Under controlled laboratory conditions, these miniature cell-based structures recreate many of the primary functions and behaviors of much larger human organs. Endometrial organoids can mimic the process of endometrial tissue regeneration that occurs during each menstrual cycle; as such, this advanced model system allows us to observe how endometrial epithelial cells organize, differentiate, and interact to maintain the structure and function of the healthy endometrium.
Applications of Organoids in the Laboratory
Thanks to their ability to recapitulate various tissue types in vitro, organoids have rapidly become an invaluable tool in biomedical research. These advanced models enable the study of cellular regeneration and plasticity, allow us to observe how cells respond to various stimuli, and permit the testing of novel therapies in a controlled manner.
At the Carlos Simon Foundation, we employ endometrium organoids to study the role of endometrial progenitor cells, particularly their ability to differentiate and regenerate/restore tissue after each menstrual cycle. Thanks to advanced lineage tracing techniques, our researchers can study how endometrial progenitor cells develop and contribute to tissue architecture within the endometrial organoid. This approach offers critical insight into the regenerative potential of endometrial progenitor cells and their possible applications in therapies for endometrial-related conditions.
Our Focus and the Advances Made at the Carlos Simon Foundation
At the Carlos Simon Foundation, the development of endometrial organoids has opened new opportunities in the study of endometrial regeneration. This approach allows our team to investigate how endometrial progenitor cells contribute to tissue regeneration and how they may respond in cases of damage or disease. By experimentation in endometrial organoids, we can observe how cells differentiate and organize within the endometrium, providing a valuable model to explore potential regenerative therapies and study endometrial pathologies that affect fertility, such as Asherman’s syndrome or endometrial atrophy.
The Carlos Simon Foundation’s focus also includes single-cell sequencing techniques, which have allowed us to map transcriptomic and genomic changes in the endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle and across a woman’s lifespan. This level of detail, combined with the application of endometrial organoids, aids our understanding of how the endometrium regenerates/prepares for embryo implantation and what factors may contribute to the development of a receptive environment.