103006CELLBLOKS - A Novel Cell Culture DeviceClosedFeasibility StudiesInnovate UKCell culture is a process whereby living cells are grown in laboratory conditions without using animals in order to gain better understanding of body function, disease or to develop new drugs. Traditionally, cells have been grown in hard and flat 2-D surfaces, either in glass or plastic, a technology that has not changed significantly since the invention of the Petri dish by Julius Richard Petrie in 1870s. Researchers across many sectors, including pharmaceutical industry, research organisations and universities apply conventional cell culture for the growth and testing of mammalian cells. Cell culture has played a vital role in many life science discoveries such as the development of new drugs or vaccines. However, the results often lack efficiency as cell growth is constrained within the available 2-D surface when compared to true three-dimensional (3-D) environments of living tissue. ReVivoCell Ltd is developing a novel device for the growth of cell cultures, in laboratory condition, that can mimic the function of living tissue much more closely. Existing technology for 3-D cell culture is expensive, difficult to use and not easily adaptable for different experiments and cell types. This technology would potentially increase the success rate of developing new treatments and reduce the reliance on animal testing. The objective of this project is to assess the feasibility of a newly developed 3-D cell culture device. ReVivoCell's invention will provide a reliable, fast and cost effective device that could be used worldwide.