Modeling bone metastatic cancer microenvironments: In vitro, ex vivo, and humanized tissue-engineered approaches

Dr Bock’s research applies bioengineering strategies to study the bone organ and tumours in this microenvironment with the ultimate goal of identifying new mechanisms that may ultimately help to understand, prevent and treat disease. The specific focus is to develop and use biomimetic 3D tailorable tissue model systems for in vitro and in vivo use, to understand the role of cellular and extracellular microenvironments in modulating normal and pathological states in bone, including prostate and breast cancer progression and therapy response. The research uses multiscale design principles of hierarchical ECM materials combined with biomaterials (multifunctional scaffolds, biopolymers, hydrogels), tissue engineering technologies (biofabrication, additive manufacturing), and multiscale correlative characterization techniques at the biological, mechanical and structural levels. The research aims to understand how biophysical and biochemical parameters from native tissues and bioengineered microenvironment models dynamically modulate the local mechanoresponsive interactions between cells and their ECMs, to understand key regulators of tissue-specific formation, architecture, composition and remodelling in healthy and diseased bone.