3D human organ chips to check drug safety
Engineering multifaceted 3D human organ platforms for toxicity testing
This project builds human 3D tissue models of the heart, blood vessels, and adrenal parts to help spot drug toxicity earlier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northeastern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11172669 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are building 3D lab-grown human tissues that include blood vessels, heart muscle, adrenal medulla cells, and autonomic neurons to recreate tissue interactions patients have in their bodies. The team will use a laser-fabricated, cut-and-assemble device design instead of traditional PDMS chips so they can better control oxygen levels and prevent loss of drug molecules. The models use primary human endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, cardiomyocytes, chromaffin cells, and human neurons to mimic real human tissue function. The goal is a fully humanized microphysiological system that improves compound screening and reduces reliance on animal testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who could contribute are those willing to donate surgical discard tissue, biopsies, or blood samples to provide primary human cells used to build the models.
Not a fit: Patients seeking direct treatment or immediate clinical benefit should not expect personal medical benefit from this lab-based engineering project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make drug development safer by predicting harmful effects in human tissues earlier and reducing unexpected toxicities in patients.
How similar studies have performed: Organ-on-chip approaches have shown promise for predicting drug responses, but fully integrated human cardiovascular platforms using non-PDMS fabrication are still relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Northeastern University — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koppes, Ryan Alan — Northeastern University
- Study coordinator: Koppes, Ryan Alan
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.