The Stem Cell Podcast

Ep. 303: “Organoid Models of Cancer” Featuring Dr. Alice Soragni

Sep 2, 2025
Dr. Alice Soragni, an Associate Professor at UCLA, delves into her groundbreaking research on patient-derived organoids and their potential in drug screening. She shares insights on her transition from structural biology to focus on protein aggregation in rare diseases. The discussion also touches on innovative advancements in organoid technology for personalized cancer treatment and the role of social media in enhancing scientific communication. Soragni highlights the importance of collaboration in driving impactful research.
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INSIGHT

Sonic Hedgehog Acts On Short Timescales

  • Sonic Hedgehog has an extracellular half-life around 90 minutes in vitro, so morphogen levels change rapidly.
  • Patterning requires continual renewal and both concentration and duration determine downstream fate.
ANECDOTE

Exploring Ultra-Rare Tumors

  • Alice focuses on ultra-rare tumors where models are scarce and sometimes nonexistent.
  • She compares studying these diseases to being an explorer uncovering biology no one has examined before.
INSIGHT

p53 Aggregation Removes Tumor Suppression

  • p53 aggregation is a cancer strategy to disable tumor suppression, particularly after mutation.
  • Preventing aggregation can restore p53 function and reduce tumor fitness, making aggregation a therapeutic target.
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