Organoids, miniature organ models grown from stem cells, replicate the complexity of actual organs on a scale of about one millimeter. They exhibit similar morphology and functions but lack crucial elements like vasculature and immune response. In contrast, organs-on-chips, while providing dynamic microenvironments, typically use less sophisticated biological models. By combining these technologies, we can leverage the biological accuracy of organoids with the dynamic capabilities of organs-on-chips. This synergy aims to replicate in vivo physiology, enabling a more accurate study of disease characteristics and drug responses.
The project’s centerpiece is to engineer heart organoids-on-chips, with functional vascular and immune components, to investigate hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). We will evaluate the efficacy of drugs in mitigating hypertrophic responses. In addition, the study will include perfusion of immune cells to analyze the role of inflammation in HCM progression, investigating immune cell recruitment.
This initiative coincides with the U.S. FDA’s pivot from mandatory animal testing for new drugs, marking a significant shift towards more relevant human-based models in drug development.