Using a perfused organ panel to test chemical toxicity without live animals
Official title: Perfused organ panel as an animal surrogate for chemical toxicity testing
Funded at Lena Biosciences, INC. · NIH-10837692 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new way to test how harmful chemicals are by using a special setup that acts like real organs, so we can learn about their effects without using live animals, making it safer and more humane.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lena Biosciences, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2020 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $922,650 |
| NIH project number | 5R44ES032355-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10837692 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals concerned about the safety of chemicals and environmental toxins, particularly those with conditions affected by toxic exposures.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not affected by environmental toxins or who do not have conditions related to chemical exposure may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new method for testing the toxicity of chemicals using a perfused organ panel, which mimics the function of real organs without the need for live animals. The approach involves creating organ cultures that can respond to toxic substances, allowing researchers to observe how these substances affect biological systems. By utilizing cells from commonly used animal species, the study aims to replicate the biological interactions and toxic responses seen in traditional animal testing. This innovative method seeks to provide reliable data that can replace or reduce animal testing in toxicity assessments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer chemical testing methods that minimize the use of animals and provide more accurate results for human health.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using organ-on-a-chip technologies for toxicity testing, indicating that this approach could be a significant advancement in the field.
Where this research is happening
-
Lena Biosciences, INC.
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vukasinovic, Jelena — Lena Biosciences, INC.
- Study coordinator: Vukasinovic, Jelena
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Lab-grown 'virtual humans' to predict how chemicals affect people
This project builds mini human organs from diverse donors to spot who might be harmed by everyday chemicals and drugs.
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A platform using virtual humans to test chemical toxicity
This study is working on a new way to understand how different people react to chemicals by using virtual models that mimic human responses, helping to find out who might be more sensitive to lower levels of toxic substances, so we can make safer choices for everyone.
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.