Unraveling childhood tumorigenesis using organoid technology

In November 2016, Jarno started his independent research group at the Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology (Utrecht, the Netherlands). The Drost group studies the molecular alterations underpinning childhood solid tumorigenesis using representative pre-clinical model systems, including organoids and mouse models. His lab was the first in the world to apply organoid technology to pediatric tumors (Schutgens et al., Nature Biotechnology 2019). They have now developed culture conditions to grow organoid cultures with high efficiency from a broad spectrum of different childhood solid tumors (Calandrini et al., Nature Communications 2020; Calandrini et al., Cell Reports 2021; Meister et al., EMBO Molecular Medicine 2022; Paassen et al., Oncogene 2023). The Drost group has a strong interest in how derailed epigenetic gene regulation contributes to tumorigenesis (Liu, Paassen & Custers et al., Nature Communications 2023). They take a multidisciplinary approach by using their unique model systems in combination with (single-cell) multi-omics, CRISPR gene editing, and lineage tracing technologies to increase understanding of the origin of these tumors and to develop new (immune-) therapeutic strategies (e.g., Custers, Khabirova & Coorens et al., Nature Communications 2021; DeMartino, Meister & Visser et al., Nature Communications 2023). 
For his research, Jarno received several awards such as the Bas Mulder Young Investigator Award from the Dutch Cancer Society, the very prestigious ERC Starting and NWO-Vidi grants, the Dutch virtual cancer institute “Oncode” membership, and the AACR St. Baldrick’s career development award for emerging leaders in the field of pediatric oncology.