Anne Rios Group
Cancer, organ development, high resolution 3D imaging, microscopy
Our Focus
Our group develops and utilizes innovative imaging strategies to visualize intact organs, tumors, and organoids in 3D. These methods capture entire tissues down to sub-cellular resolution and can reveal novel and unexpected features of cancer progression.
With our combined expertise in microscopy and developmental biology, we study the dynamic interplay between tumor growth and organ development in pediatric cancer. Advanced imaging is used together with multi-colored lineage tracing to visualize tumor development, invasion into healthy tissue and metastasis. Furthermore, we capture the cellular organization and heterogeneity within the tumor through unbiased data quantification. With these strategies we aim to identify novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers, and ensure better stratification of patient for treatment. In addition, we strive to advance current therapeutic protocols, for instance by optimizing tumor resection through fluorescence guided surgery.
We strongly believe that the impact of our technology extends beyond our own work and are actively making it available to the scientific community by running the Princess Màxima Imaging Center and providing trainings and workshops. Moreover, we developed a 3D-stereo-display that uses 3D-glasses to immerse audiences inside virtual tumors and their associated organs and use it to engage the public into the fight against cancer.
