What value do contract bioassay services bring?

Contract bioassay services provide high-quality experimental data that supports key decision-making in drug discovery and enable efficient evaluation of compound activity in biologically relevant systems. Working with a CRO such as Cellomatics adds further value through access to specialised expertise, advanced assay platforms, and flexible, bespoke study design, helping accelerate timelines while ensuring robust and reproducible data.

When should these services be used?

They are particularly valuable when internal resources are limited, timelines are tight, or specialised expertise is required. Cellomatics supports rapid project initiation with ready-to-deploy assay platforms.

How do these services improve study timelines?

Established workflows and experienced scientific teams reduce setup time and accelerate data generation, keeping projects on schedule.

What ensures reliability in contract bioassay services?

Reliability is achieved through validated methods, controlled workflows, and rigorous quality control processes. Cellomatics maintains strict reproducibility standards across all studies.

How are complex assays handled?

Advanced assays are supported by specialised instrumentation and expert teams. Cellomatics delivers complex multi-parametric studies across immunology, oncology, and inflammation.

Can these services be customised?

Yes. Study design can be adapted to meet specific project needs, including model selection, assay format, and readout. This flexibility ensures biologically relevant outcomes.

immuno-oncology

Immuno-oncology Assays

Immuno-oncology CRO Services for Preclinical Drug Discovery

Cellomatics Biosciences is an immuno-oncology CRO providing specialist oncology CRO services to support preclinical drug discovery. We work with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to evaluate novel immunotherapies using clinically relevant human cell-based models and functional immune assays.

Our capabilities include immune checkpoint assays, T and NK cell activation and cytotoxicity studies, macrophage and NK cell assays, mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLRs), and complex co-culture models designed to generate robust mechanistic and efficacy data. As an experienced immuno-oncology CRO, we develop bespoke assay platforms that help clients better understand mechanism of action, optimise lead candidates, and make informed decisions before advancing into clinical development.

ADCC ADCP Immune Cell Killing Immune Checkpoint MLR

What is an Immuno-oncology CRO?

An immuno-oncology CRO is a specialist contract research organisation that supports the development of cancer immunotherapies through bespoke oncology CRO services. These include designing and performing studies that evaluate therapeutic efficacy, mechanism of action and immune responses using clinically relevant human cell-based models.

Our Immuno-oncology CRO services

As a leading provider of immuno-oncology CRO services, Cellomatics supports every stage of immunotherapy drug discovery with advanced human cell-based models and bespoke functional assays. As a preclinical oncology CRO, we design and deliver tailored studies to evaluate therapeutic efficacy, mechanism of action and immune cell function. Our expertise includes bespoke assay development, immune checkpoint assays, tumour–immune co-culture models, T cell and NK cell functional assays, macrophage biology, cytokine profiling and biomarker analysis, providing robust preclinical data to support informed drug development decisions

Immuno-oncology assay expertise

ADCC Assays (Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity)

ADCC assays measure the ability of therapeutic antibodies to recruit immune effector cells, primarily natural killer (NK) cells, to selectively kill antibody-coated tumour cells. These assays are widely used to evaluate the potency and mechanism of action of monoclonal antibodies and Fc-engineered therapeutics.

Cellomatics develops bespoke ADCC assays using primary human NK cells or PBMCs co-cultured with antigen-expressing tumour cells. Functional endpoints include tumour cell killing, NK cell activation (CD107a, IFN-γ, Granzyme B), cytokine secretion, and flow cytometric or imaging-based analysis.

ADCC assays are routinely applied during lead optimisation, biosimilar comparability, potency testing and candidate selection across a range of solid tumour and haematological cancer programmes.

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ADCP Assays (Antibody-Dependent Cellular Phagocytosis)

ADCP assays evaluate the ability of macrophages to engulf and eliminate antibody-opsonised tumour cells. As macrophage-mediated clearance has become an increasingly important mechanism of action for many immunotherapies, ADCP is now a key functional assay in preclinical development.

Our assays utilise primary human monocyte-derived macrophages or differentiated macrophage cell lines co-cultured with fluorescently labelled tumour cells. Phagocytosis is quantified by flow cytometry or high-content imaging, together with analysis of macrophage activation markers and cytokine production.

These assays support the development of monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, Fc-engineered antibodies and therapies targeting macrophage checkpoints such as CD47-SIRPα.

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Immune Cell Killing Assays (T Cell and NK Cell Cytotoxicity)

Immune cell killing assays determine the ability of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and NK cells to recognise and eliminate tumour cells. These assays provide direct evidence of anti-tumour immune function and are widely used during immunotherapy development.

Cellomatics offers customised co-culture models using primary human T cells or NK cells together with tumour cell lines or patient-derived cancer models. Cytotoxicity can be measured using CellTiter-Glo®, LDH release, live-cell imaging, flow cytometry and apoptosis assays, alongside assessment of immune activation markers and cytokine secretion.

These studies are particularly valuable for evaluating T-cell engagers, CAR-T and CAR-NK therapies, TCR-based therapeutics, cytokine therapies and immune-modulating antibodies.

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Immune Checkpoint Bioassays

Immune checkpoint bioassays assess therapeutic candidates designed to restore anti-tumour immunity by blocking inhibitory immune pathways. These assays play a central role in the development of checkpoint inhibitors and combination immunotherapies.

We offer both reporter-based and primary human immune cell assays to evaluate checkpoint pathways including PD-1/PD-L1, CTLA-4, LAG-3 and TIM-3. Readouts include T-cell activation, cytokine production, proliferation, NFAT/NF-κB reporter activity and tumour cell killing.

These assays support potency testing, mechanism-of-action studies, lead optimisation and biosimilar development across multiple immuno-oncology programmes.

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Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction (MLR)

The Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction (MLR) is a well-established assay that measures T-cell activation and proliferation following exposure to allogeneic antigen-presenting cells. It provides a robust model for assessing immune activation and immunomodulation.

Cellomatics performs MLR assays using primary human PBMCs from unrelated healthy donors. Readouts include T-cell proliferation, activation marker expression (CD25, CD69), cytokine profiling, flow cytometry and multiplex immunoassays.

MLR assays are widely used to evaluate immune checkpoint inhibitors, co-stimulatory agonists, immunosuppressive agents, cell therapies and novel immunomodulatory compounds during preclinical development.

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ADC Assays (Antibody–Drug Conjugate Functional Assays)

ADC assays are designed to evaluate the activity of antibody–drug conjugates by assessing target binding, internalisation, payload-mediated cytotoxicity and downstream biological responses. These studies help determine both the specificity and therapeutic efficacy of ADC candidates.

Our customised assays combine antigen-positive and antigen-negative tumour cell models with functional readouts including cell viability, apoptosis, internalisation kinetics, biomarker expression and immune-mediated mechanisms where appropriate. Co-culture models can also be incorporated to investigate immune cell interactions following ADC treatment.

These assays support candidate selection, optimisation of linker and payload design, and preclinical efficacy assessment across a broad range of oncology indications.

TDCC Assays (T Cell-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity)

TDCC assays evaluate the ability of T cell-engaging therapeutics, including bispecific antibodies and T-cell engagers, to redirect T cells towards tumour cells and induce antigen-specific tumour cell killing.

Cellomatics develops physiologically relevant co-culture systems using primary human T cells and tumour target cells expressing the relevant antigen. Functional endpoints include tumour cell cytotoxicity, T-cell activation, proliferation, cytokine secretion and immune synapse formation using flow cytometry, live-cell imaging and multiplex biomarker analysis.

TDCC assays are widely used for the development of bispecific antibodies, T-cell engagers and next-generation immune-modulating biologics, providing valuable mechanistic and efficacy data during preclinical drug discovery.

Therapeutic area expertise

Cellomatics supports preclinical drug discovery across a broad range of therapeutic areas using advanced human cell-based models, primary human cells and bespoke assay platforms. Our scientists work closely with biotechnology, pharmaceutical and academic partners to develop tailored studies that generate robust, clinically relevant data to support candidate selection, mechanism-of-action studies and translational research.

Our expertise spans immunology, oncology, inflammation, and immuno-oncology, supported by a comprehensive portfolio of cell-based assays and phenotypic screening platforms. Whether evaluating immune modulation, tumour cell responses, inflammatory signalling or complex cell–cell interactions, we design studies that closely reflect human biology and answer specific scientific questions.

To learn more about our capabilities, explore our dedicated pages on Immunology, Oncology, Inflammation, Cell-Based Assays, and Phenotypic Screening. These services can be combined with our bespoke immuno-oncology platforms to support every stage of preclinical therapeutic development.

Why choose Cellomatics

At Cellomatics, we combine scientific expertise with flexible study design to help clients generate robust, clinically relevant data that supports informed decision-making throughout drug discovery. Every project is tailored to your specific scientific objectives rather than relying on fixed assay packages.

Our human-relevant in vitro models incorporate primary human cells, advanced co-culture systems and disease-relevant assay platforms to improve the translational value of preclinical studies. We also specialise in bespoke assay development, enabling us to design and optimise novel assays for emerging therapeutic targets and mechanisms of action.

Through our in-house healthy volunteer programme, we have direct access to fresh primary immune cells, including PBMCs, T cells, NK cells, monocytes and neutrophils, supporting highly reproducible functional immunology and immuno-oncology studies.

Clients also benefit from rapid turnaround times, direct access to the scientists performing their studies, and flexible study designs that can be adapted as projects evolve. This collaborative approach enables us to deliver high-quality data while responding quickly to changing scientific priorities.

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For a more in depth look at our immuno-oncology expertise, click the button below to gain access to our immuno-oncology hub, with a detailed look at our data sets and offering.

FAQ's

What does an Immuno-oncology CRO do?

An immuno-oncology CRO provides specialised preclinical research services to support the discovery and development of cancer immunotherapies. This includes designing and performing human cell-based studies to evaluate therapeutic efficacy, immune cell function, mechanism of action, biomarker responses and candidate selection before clinical development.

What immuno-oncology assays do you offer?

We offer a comprehensive portfolio of immuno-oncology assays, including ADCC, ADCP, immune cell killing assays, immune checkpoint bioassays, mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR), T-cell activation and proliferation assays, NK cell functional assays, cytokine profiling, tumour–immune co-culture models, flow cytometry, high-content imaging and bespoke mechanism-of-action studies.

Can checkpoint inhibitor therapies be evaluated in vitro?

Yes. We develop customised in vitro models to evaluate checkpoint inhibitor therapies targeting pathways such as PD-1/PD-L1, CTLA-4, LAG-3 and TIM-3. These studies assess T-cell activation, cytokine production, proliferation, immune cell function and tumour cell killing to support candidate selection and mechanism-of-action studies.

Do you provide ADCC and ADCP assays?

Yes. We routinely perform both ADCC (Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity) and ADCP (Antibody-Dependent Cellular Phagocytosis) assays using primary human immune cells and clinically relevant tumour models. Assays can be tailored to evaluate monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies and other antibody-based therapeutics.

Can assays be customised for specific immunotherapy programmes?

Absolutely. Every project at Cellomatics is designed around the client’s scientific objectives. We specialise in bespoke assay development and can customise cell models, immune cell populations, tumour targets, treatment conditions, biomarkers and analytical endpoints to support a wide range of immunotherapy programmes and mechanisms of action.

Request a consultation with Cellomatics Biosciences today

Planning your next immuno-oncology study? Whether you are developing immune checkpoint inhibitors, antibody therapeutics, cell therapies, bispecific antibodies or novel immunomodulators, our scientists are ready to help.

At Cellomatics, we work closely with biotechnology, pharmaceutical and academic partners to design bespoke immuno-oncology studies using advanced human-relevant in vitro models and primary human immune cells. From assay design and feasibility studies to full preclinical efficacy programmes, we provide flexible, scientifically robust solutions tailored to your research objectives.