Automated 3D cell culture and image analysis lab streamlines and scales complex biology research
The new Organoid Innovation Center at Molecular Devices combines cutting-edge technologies with novel 3D biology methods to address key challenges of scaling complex 3D biology.
The collaborative space brings customers and researchers into the lab to test automated workflows for organoid culturing and screening, with guidance from in-house scientists.
An end-to-end solution standardizes the organoid development process with cell culture, treatment, and incubation, through to imaging, analysis, and data processing, delivering consistent, unbiased, and biologically-relevant results at scale.

Quickly adopt innovative, 3D biological methods and technologies for drug discovery
The center expands beyond imaging to demonstrate a fully-integrated solution that addresses the challenges associated with every step in the sample prep-to-report pipeline for assays performed on complex 3D biological models.
The Organoid Innovation Center showcases cutting-edge instruments that work harmoniously together for autonomous, long-term, live cell 2D and 3D cell culture growth and monitoring with intelligent label-free imaging. This integrated workflow provides quality control alerts and readiness, 3D organoid screening, and deep learning image analysis that reveals hidden patterns other technologies miss.
"While organoids hold great promise to transform drug development, precision medicine, and ultimately, transplantation-based therapies for end-stage diseases, a number of major hurdles need to be overcome to realize the full potential of organoid medicine. Our recently established CuSTOM Accelerator Lab aims to solve these issues by developing fully automated high-throughput workflows for improved scalability, reproducibility of organoid production and novel organoid-based drug screening platforms. Combining CuSTOM’s expertise with the cutting-edge imaging technologies and solutions from Molecular Devices will be essential for achieving these goals. CuSTOM’s innovative approach aligns well with the focus of Molecular Devices’ Organoid Innovation Center for advancing biological imaging and analytical methods for real-world impact, and we look forward to working together to further advance a versatile organoid medicine."
— Magdalena Kasendra, Ph.D.
Director of research and development at CuSTOM
Read press release >
See the power and flexibility of an automated and customizable high-throughput screening solution
With intuitive scheduling software researchers can control the 3D workflow remotely, tracking the cell journey from single cell to differentiated organoid, along the way. Cell culture and incubation is streamlined with an automated incubator and collaborative robot that maintains culture consistency. Media exchange for culture maintenance is standardized and streamlined with automated liquid handling, minimizing manual intervention. 3D model development can be monitored over time with label-free imaging to assess assay readiness – and with real-time feedback, scheduling of automated compound addition and treatment is standardized.
Organoid Screening Workflow
- Step 1) 2d Pre-culture – Organoids are pre-cultured from iPSC-derived or primary cells (intestine, lung, or brain)
- Step 2) Developing 3D Organoids – Cells are transferred to 24-well plates then placed in an incubator to promote cell growth and differentiation into specific tissue in 3D
- Step 3) Organoid Culture – Organoid culture process require multiple steps with different media exchanges
- Step 4) Monitor organoid growth & development – Organoid are monitored and characterized for complex analysis of tissue structure and differentiation
- Step 5) Confocal imaging and 3D analysis – The visualization and characterization of multiple quantitative descriptors used for studying disease phenotypes and compound effects
Our new ImageXpress Confocal HT.ai High-Content Imaging system is designed for 3D imaging. This system offers eight high-powered laser excitation channels and automated water immersion objectives that boost signal and assay sensitivity without sacrificing speed. Spinning disk confocal technology with five pinhole geometry options reduces haze from out-of-focus light for deeper organoid penetration and improved axial resolution. For analysis of complex 3D biology, IN Carta Image Analysis Software provides a streamlined workflow with powerful deep-learning-based segmentation, machine learning-based classification, and 3D volumetric analysis.
Complete solutions for a fully integrated lab automation workflow
Our lab automation solutions include scientists and engineers who can customize our instruments, as well as automate entire workflows to meet the specific needs of your assay, method, or protocol. From incubators, liquid handlers, and robotics to customized software and hardware—and with over 35 years of experience in the life science industry—you can count on us to deliver quality products and provide worldwide support.
Sale is subject to our Custom Product Purchase Terms available at www.moleculardevices.com/custom-products-purchase-terms
Featured Blog: Engineering Next-gen Organoids with Automated Lab Workflows at #SLAS2022
SLAS2022, the Society for Lab Automation and Screening conference offered another exciting year for learning about innovative laboratory technologies. Whether you attended in-person or visited us online at our virtual events page, we were excited to share new methods and protocols to automate your complex biology workflows.
Here's a brief overview of our poster presentations that run the gamut of valuable topics — from new advancements in engineering next-generation organoids to developing an automated lab workflow for 3D cell culture, monitoring, and high-content imaging.

Lung organoid cell image gallery





Applications and assays
The Organoid Innovation Center builds on Molecular Devices 35 years of experience delivering high-performance life science technology to customers for improved drug development, biotechnology research, and clone screening workflows.
Learn more about our industry leading 3D biology and automated high-content imaging applications:
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2D to 3D Cell Culture
There has been a recent shift toward using 3D cell models in drug discovery and disease modeling, as numerous studies show they better mimic the in vivo environment and provide more physiologically-relevant data than 2D models.
- Article: Making the move from 2D to 3D cell culture: an interview with Molecular Devices’ Jayne Hesley and Jeff McMillan
- Webinar: Getting started with imaging 3D cell models, A collaboration with Molecular Devices and MIMETAS
- Webinar: Transitioning high-content assays to 3D: Scientific opportunities & imaging challenges
3D Biology Articles
Curated 3D biology articles from Molecular Devices subject matter experts, featured in trade publications like BioTechniques and Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News.
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3D Cancer Cell Research
Cancer involves changes which enable cells to grow and divide without respect to normal limits, to invade and destroy adjacent tissues, and ultimately to metastasize to distant sites in the body. Cancer spheroids mimic tumor behavior far more effectively than standard 2D cell cultures. Such 3D spheroid models are being successfully used in screening environments for identifying potential cancer therapeutics.
Cancer researchers need tools that enable them to more easily study the complex and often poorly understood interactions between cancerous cells and their environment, and to identify points of therapeutic intervention.
3D Cell Models
3D cell cultures offer the advantage of closely recapitulating aspects of human tissues including the architecture, cell organization, cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, and more physiologically-relevant diffusion characteristics. Utilization of 3D cellular assays adds value to research and screening campaigns, spanning the translational gap between 2D cell cultures and whole-animal models. By reproducing important parameters of the in vivo environment, 3D models can provide unique insight into the behavior of stem cells and developing tissues in vitro.
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Cell Painting
Cell Painting is a high-content, multiplexed image-based assay used for cytological profiling. In a Cell Painting assay, up to six fluorescent dyes are used to label different components of the cell including the nucleus, the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, cytoskeleton, the Golgi apparatus, and RNA. The goal is to “paint” as much of the cell as possible to capture a representative image of the whole cell.
Customer Breakthrough
Bioneer uses the ImageXpress Micro Confocal for high-throughput imaging of 3D disease models
Revolutionizing early drug discovery for immuno-oncology and neurodegenerative disease modelling: High content imaging of 3D disease models
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Disease Modeling
In this webinar, in collaboration with MIMETAS, we present some of the latest developments in integrating organoid protocols with organ-on-a-chip technology, as well as advancements in the high-content imaging technologies that are enabling these advanced 3D applications. We show how a range of tissue models comprising complex co-cultures can be formed in a perfused system, using state-of-the-art stem cell and organoid protocols, and how such models can then be screened and analyzed within a single, integrated interface to dramatically reduce time to discovery.
Organoids
Organoids are three-dimensional (3D) multi-cellular microtissues that are designed to closely mimic the complex structure and functionality of human organs. Organoids typically consist of a co-culture of cells which demonstrate a high order of self-assembly to allow for an even better representation of complex in vivo cell responses and interactions, as compared to traditional 2D cell cultures.
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Stem Cell Research
Pluripotent stem cells can be used for studies in developmental biology or differentiated as a source for organ-specific cells and used for live or fixed cell-based assays on slides or in multi-well plates. The ImageXpress system has utility in all parts of the stem cell researcher’s workflow, from tracking differentiation, to quality control, to measuring functionality of specific cell types.
Toxicity Screening
Organoid models have increasingly gained popularity in biologic research and screening to recapitulate complexity of real tissues. To model the in vivo human lungs, we have cultured primary human lung epithelial cells under conditions that promote the formation of 3D structures recapitulating the morphological and functional characteristics of the airway.
Resources for Organoid Innovation Center
Blog
Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine – Technology and Methods Presented at ISSCR 2022
Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine – Technology and Methods Presented at ISSCR 2022
It was another great year at ISSCR 2022! Leaders from across the globe came together to discuss new technologies, share insights, and explore the newest breakthroughs in stem cell…
Application Note
Neurite outgrowth analysis in 3D reconstructed human brain micro-tissues
Neurite outgrowth analysis in 3D reconstructed human brain micro-tissues
Organotypic 3D cultures resemble native 3D tissue architecture and are believed more representative of real tissues than their 2D (monolayer) counterparts, thus providing higher in vivo…
Blog
How automated organoid cell cultures are developed, imaged, and analyzed
How automated organoid cell cultures are developed, imaged, and analyzed
3D cell models are becoming increasingly popular for studying complex biological effects, tissue functionality, and diseases. Their ability to self-organize and mimic…
Scientific Poster
Intestinal organoids for automated screening assays. High content imaging and analysis of organoid morphology
Intestinal organoids for automated screening assays. High content imaging and analysis of organoid morphology
Here we describe a workflow for automation of organoid culture. The automated method utilizes an integrated work-cell, consisting of several instruments providing automated cell culture, mon…
Application Note
Label-free cell segmentation with IN Carta SINAP application module
Label-free cell segmentation with IN Carta SINAP application module
Label-free cell analysis provides a better alternative to using fluorescent dyes as it enables scientists to image live cells under near-native conditions – examining biological processes…
Flyer
Organoid Innovation Center
Organoid Innovation Center
The Organoid Innovation Center showcases cutting-edge instruments that work harmoniously together for autonomous, long-term, 3D and 2D live cell culture growth and monitoring with intelligen…
Blog
Engineering Next-gen Organoids with Automated Lab Workflows at #SLAS2022
Engineering Next-gen Organoids with Automated Lab Workflows at #SLAS2022
SLAS2022, the Society for Lab Automation and Screening conference offered another exciting year for learning about innovative laboratory technologies. Whether you attended in-person…
Blog
Enabling 3D High-Content Imaging and Analysis on the Organ-on-a-Chip Platform
Enabling 3D High-Content Imaging and Analysis on the Organ-on-a-Chip Platform
Imagine having the ability to mimic the human biological environment for disease modeling and drug screening and doing so in a micro-scale system. With the development of organ-on-a-…
Blog
Lab Automation 101: Inside Access From Our Subject Matter Expert
Lab Automation 101: Inside Access From Our Subject Matter Expert
In life sciences, more is more. Obtaining a great body of data that is consistent and insightful to get a qualitative and quantitative overview of your model is critical. However,…
Application Note
Deep Learning-based Image Analysis for Label-free Live Monitoring of iPSC and 3D Organoid Cultures
Deep Learning-based Image Analysis for Label-free Live Monitoring of iPSC and 3D Organoid Cultures
Complex 3D biological models such as organoids and patient-derived spheroids are gaining popularity in many biomedical research areas because they more closely recapitulate the in vivo…
Blog
Innovation at Molecular Devices: Updates in Automated, High-Content Imaging
Innovation at Molecular Devices: Updates in Automated, High-Content Imaging
From customer feedback to workflow improvements The path to understanding complex biological processes and diseases is paved with a lot of challenges. As the desired level of…
Publications
Talking Techniques | Organoids: advancing drug discovery and cancer research
Talking Techniques | Organoids: advancing drug discovery and cancer research
"As the transition from 2D to 3D cell cultures, or organoids, as the gold standard for modeling basic biology and disease continues, these models are being utilized in ever more intricate an…
Blog
Stem cell science insights and breakthroughs presented at #ISSCR2021
Stem cell science insights and breakthroughs presented at #ISSCR2021
If you didn't get a chance to visit us at our poster sessions during ISSCR 2021, don’t fret. We've gathered all our sessions right here for you. The ISSCR Annual Meeting brought…
Application Note
Organoids for disease modeling and in vitro drug screening
Organoids for disease modeling and in vitro drug screening
We describe an automated integrated system that would allow automated monitoring, maintenance, and characterization of growth and differentiation of organoids and stem cells, as well as…
Scientific Poster
Organoids for disease modeling and in vitro drug screening
Organoids for disease modeling and in vitro drug screening
3D cell models representing various tissues were successfully used for studying complex biological effects, tissue architecture, and functionality. However, the complexity of 3D models remai…
Scientific Poster
Monitoring organoid development and characterization of calcium oscillation activities in iPSC-derived 3D cerebral organoids
Monitoring organoid development and characterization of calcium oscillation activities in iPSC-derived 3D cerebral organoids
Cerebral organoids are a rapidly developing technology that has great potential for understanding brain development and neuronal diseases. They can also be used for testing effects of compou…
Scientific Poster
High-throughput assessment of compound-induced pro-arrhythmic effects in human IPSC-derived cardiomyocytes
High-throughput assessment of compound-induced pro-arrhythmic effects in human IPSC-derived cardiomyocytes
Development of biologically relevant and predictive cell-based assays for compound screening and toxicity assessment is a major challenge in drug discovery. The focus of this study was to es…
Scientific Poster
Deep learning-based image analysis for label-free live monitoring of iPSC 3D organoid cultures
Deep learning-based image analysis for label-free live monitoring of iPSC 3D organoid cultures
Complex 3D biological models such as organoids and patient derived spheroids are gaining popularity in many biomedical research areas because they more closely recapitulate the in vivo tissu…
Publications
Project Profile: Organoid Innovation Center
Project Profile: Organoid Innovation Center
Lab Manager speaks to Dan O’Connor, vice president, drug discovery, Molecular Devices, about the company’s Organoid Innovation Center in San Jose, CA. The center is 180 sq. ft., within a lar…
Blog
Tips for running a successful live cell imaging experiment
Tips for running a successful live cell imaging experiment
There have been significant advancements in microscopy and camera technology, as well as advancements in technologies for labeling molecules of interest over the past decade. These…
Blog
Overcome the challenges of high-throughput 3D imaging
Overcome the challenges of high-throughput 3D imaging
Thanks to recent advances in imaging technologies, we are now able to observe and analyze complex cellular networks in three dimensions. Through 3D imaging, we can acquire and…
Publications
Shaping the Future of Organoid Research
Shaping the Future of Organoid Research
Molecular Devices, a provider of innovative life science technology, recently unveiled a brand new, first-of-its-kind Organoid Innovation Center. Situated at the company’s global headquarter…
Blog
Overcome the challenges of high-content cell analysis through AI/machine learning
Overcome the challenges of high-content cell analysis through AI/machine learning
Artificial intelligence (AI) is finding its way into many aspects of modern life, from autonomous vehicles to voice-powered personal assistants, and even the creation of art. But it…
Publications
Using 3D cancer cell models to push forward personalized medicine
Using 3D cancer cell models to push forward personalized medicine
Using 3D cancer cell models to push forward personalized medicine: an interview with Angeline Lim, PhD, of Molecular Devices Editor-in-Chief, Francesca Lake, speaks to Angeline Lim of Mole…
Publications
Disease Modeling with 3D Cell-Based Assays Using a Novel Flowchip System and High-Content Imaging
Disease Modeling with 3D Cell-Based Assays Using a Novel Flowchip System and High-Content Imaging
There is an increasing interest in using three-dimensional (3D) cell structures for modeling tumors, organs, and tissue to accelerate translational research. We describe here a novel automat…
Scientific Poster
Automated 3D cell-based assays using a novel flow chip system and high-content imaging
Automated 3D cell-based assays using a novel flow chip system and high-content imaging
There is an increasing interest in using three-dimensional (3D) cell structures for modeling tumors, organs, and tissue to accelerate translation research. Significant progress has been made…
Scientific Poster
Novel assay methods for cancer patient derived organoids
Novel assay methods for cancer patient derived organoids
In recent years, researchers have transitioned from traditional 2D assays to more complex 3D cell models, as they are shown to recapitulate the in vivo environment and serve as a more predic…
Blog
How Cell Painting is making its mark on drug discovery
How Cell Painting is making its mark on drug discovery
Have you ever heard the old adage, “A picture is worth a thousand words?” When it comes to Cell Painting, this saying is especially true. Cell Painting is a high-content,…
Scientific Poster
Using a laser light source for high-content automated imaging
Using a laser light source for high-content automated imaging
In this study, we demonstrate improvement in assay sensitivity, precision, and speed of acquisition with a new configuration of the ImageXpress® Confocal HT.ai High-Content Imaging System th…
Scientific Poster
Simplified workflow for phenotypic profiling based on the Cell Painting assay
Simplified workflow for phenotypic profiling based on the Cell Painting assay
Multiparametric high-content screening approaches, such as the Cell Painting assay, are increasingly being used in many applications ranging from drug discovery programs to functional genomi…
Scientific Poster
Lung organoids as an assay model for in vitro assessment of toxicity effects by 3D high-content imaging and analysis
Lung organoids as an assay model for in vitro assessment of toxicity effects by 3D high-content imaging and analysis
Organoid models have increasingly gained popularity in biologic research and screening to recapitulate complexity of real tissues. To model the in vivo human lungs, we have cultured primary…
Application Note
Improve sensitivity, speed, and assay quality for complex biological assays
Improve sensitivity, speed, and assay quality for complex biological assays
Here, we demonstrate improvement in assay sensitivity, quality, and speed of acquisition with the ImageXpress® Confocal HT.ai, our high-content imaging laser-based system.
Application Note
High-content phenotypic profiling using the Cell Painting assay
High-content phenotypic profiling using the Cell Painting assay
Here, we present a complete workflow for a cell painting assay that can be easily implemented using the ImageXpress Micro system and image analysis with machine learning capabilities
eBook
Cellular Imaging Insights
Cellular Imaging Insights
Gain insights and expedite studies for 2D and 3D cellular structures using automated cellular imaging.
Blog
Life sciences technology predictions for 2021
Life sciences technology predictions for 2021
For over 30 years, Molecular Devices has been at the forefront of technological advances which have contributed to significant scientific breakthroughs. To kick off the new year, we…
Blog
Advancing scientific discovery to improve quality of life
Advancing scientific discovery to improve quality of life
Accomplishing scientific breakthroughs can be a slow and arduous process. However, time is of the essence when dementia, cancer, cardiac disease, COVID-19, and more continue to…
Blog
Get to know our Field Applications Scientist: Kayla Hill
Get to know our Field Applications Scientist: Kayla Hill
Kayla Hill discusses the latest trends in cellular imaging We recently hosted a webinar with our Field Applications Scientist, Kayla Hill, PhD, who explored high-content analysis…
Application Note
3D image analysis and characterization of angiogenesis in organ-on-a-chip model
3D image analysis and characterization of angiogenesis in organ-on-a-chip model
Angiogenesis is the physiological process of formation and remodeling of new blood vessels and capillaries from pre-existing blood vessels. This can be achieved through endothelial…
Publications
3D Microscopy Keeps Getting Faster, Smarter, Leaner
3D Microscopy Keeps Getting Faster, Smarter, Leaner
With each passing day, continuous advancements are being made in the studies that cutting-edge instruments can perform and in the complexity of the biological samples that are being examined…
Publications
Making the move from 2D to 3D
Making the move from 2D to 3D
Jayne Hesley is a Senior Applications Scientist for Cellular Imaging at Molecular Devices, LLC. She has over 10 years’ experience developing cell-based applications using ImageXpress Micro h…
Scientific Poster
Water immersion objectives for automated high-content imaging to improve precision and quality of complex biological assays
Water immersion objectives for automated high-content imaging to improve precision and quality of complex biological assays
The purpose of these studies was to determine if water immersion objectives, used to improve image quality in complex biological assays, could be used in a high-throughput environment.
eBook
Cellular Imaging Made Easy
Cellular Imaging Made Easy
A streamlined workflow for cell counting and phenotypic characterization is critical to many experiments. Our SpectraMax® i3x microplate reader with MiniMax™ cytometer provides you with cell…
Application Note
High-content assay for morphological characterization of 3D neuronal networks in a microfluidic platform
High-content assay for morphological characterization of 3D neuronal networks in a microfluidic platform
Establishment of physiologically-relevant in vitro models is crucial to further understanding of the mechanisms of neurological diseases as well as targeted drug development. While iPSC-…
Publications
Phenotypic Assays for Characterizing Compound Effects on Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiac Spheroids
Phenotypic Assays for Characterizing Compound Effects on Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiac Spheroids
Development of more complex, biologically relevant, and predictive cell-based assays for compound screening is a major challenge in drug discovery. The focus of this study was to establish h…
Publications
In Vitro Cardiotoxicity Assessment of Environmental Chemicals Using an Organotypic Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Model
In Vitro Cardiotoxicity Assessment of Environmental Chemicals Using an Organotypic Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Model
An important target area for addressing data gaps through in vitro screening is the detection of potential cardiotoxicants. Despite the fact that current conservative estimates relate at lea…
Publications
Phenotypic Characterization of Toxic Compound Effects on Liver Spheroids Derived from iPSC Using Confocal Imaging and Three-Dimensional Image Analysis
Phenotypic Characterization of Toxic Compound Effects on Liver Spheroids Derived from iPSC Using Confocal Imaging and Three-Dimensional Image Analysis
Cell models are becoming more complex to better mimic the in vivo environment and provide greater predictivity for compound efficacy and toxicity. There is an increasing interest in explorin…
Videos & Webinars

Organoid Innovation Center Walkthrough

High-throughput, organoid-derived organ-on-a-chip systems for drug discovery and disease modelling

Getting started with imaging 3D cell models – all you need to know

Physiologically-Relevant Tissue Models Using a High-Throughput Organ-on-a-Chip Platform