title: 3D cell culture systems--towards primary drug discovery platforms: an interview with Heinz Ruffner (Novartis) and Jan Lichtenberg (InSphero).
abstract: Advanced cell culture systems for regenerative medicine, drug efficacy and toxicity testing, enabling technologies to create and analyze 3D cell culture systems were the topics of the 3D cell culture meeting taking place in March 14-16, 2012 at the Technopark in Zurich, Switzerland. At this meeting Biotechnology Journal had the pleasure to talk to Dr. Heinz Ruffner, Novartis AG, and Dr. Jan Lichtenberg, co-founder and CEO of InSphero AG, about challenges and perspectives in using 3D cell culture systems as primary drug discovery platforms.
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ruffner
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lichtenberg
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans