Dr. Erico Costa has a Bachelor in Biology from the University of São Paulo (USP), a Doctorate from the Institute of Chemistry of USP, and Post Doctorate in tumor biology from the Institute Ludwig. Since 2016, he is the senior researcher at the Hospital Sírio-Libanês in São Paulo and leads the research on tumor biology. Dr. Costa met TissueLabs right before the pandemic. We interviewed him to know more about his work.
TissueLabs (TL): HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT TISSUELABS AND WHEN DID YOU START WORKING WITH TISSUELABS
Erico Costa (E.C): The research group had to import purified collagen, and for this import to happen, it had to be done in large quantities, while the group used relatively little. This implied large purchases and wasted material, as it was very perishable. We searched for alternatives and then found TissueLabs. The purchase is now made according to the needs of the research group, easier purchases, and very fast delivery.
TL: WHAT ARE YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH TISSUELABS? IN WHICH CONTEXT?
E.C: We met TissueLabs a year before the pandemic, as a test. The proposal was to advance our research and use TissueLabs material to create artificial skin. In addition to this material, I work with melanoma and glioblastoma, and we use the brain matrix produced by TissueLabs as a way to mimic part of the glioblastoma cell niche (adhesion and migration substrate)
TL: WHAT ARE YOUR LONG-TERM GOALS?
E.C: We aim to seek models that more closely mimic the tumor environment, in order to recapitulate tumor growth outside the patients' body. We also pretend to use these tools (outside the patient's body) as predictive models to test the patient's own tumor behavior. It would bring faster predictive and prognostic responses to drug testing.
TL: HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK TISSUELABS CAN HELP IN YOUR RESEARCH?
E.C: Being very realistic, animal models are still the most viable. However, with the tendency to reduce the use of these animals for research, TissueLabs comes in as a great alternative.
TL: WHAT OTHER BENEFITS DID TISSUELABS BRING YOU?
E.C: TissueLabs established quality of service and product reliability from the first contact. Confidence is the best quality for a company to work with. We know that there is a lot of care in the production line and preparation of materials. Other qualities of TissueLabs are the responsibility of deadlines, ease of payments (because we work with grants and sometimes there is a delay in the release, and TissueLabs understands), and facilitates purchases. The TissueLabs x Researcher relationship is a differential, not to mention the quality.
TL: SOMETHING TO ADD?
E.C: The main animal models used in oncological research are mice and zebrafish. We have made comparisons between the responses of the animal models and the TissueLabs material. Whichever has the greatest predictive response, which will take a few years to know for sure, I will use in my research.
TL: We thank Dr. Erico Costa for being a part of our history, and we hope to keep supporting him and his team along with their research.