Why model design matters for cell therapy development

As immune cell therapies advance into solid tumors, preclinical models need to reflect increasingly complex interactions between tumor cells, immune cells, and the surrounding microenvironment.

In this interview, Alexander Trampe, Zinnia Noor, and Janina Moros discuss practical considerations that can help you select and design model systems that balance biological relevance with experimental interpretability.

Read the interview to explore:

• Where simplified assay systems can fall short in modeling tumor-immune interactions
• How 3D models and immune-tumor co-cultures can add biological relevance
• Which immune cell populations can provide useful context for different research questions
• When donor characterization and HLA context become important
• How to select functional readouts that reflect the intended mechanism of action
• How standardization and robust reporting can reduce variability and improve interpretability
• Which emerging model systems may further improve physiological relevance