Abstract

Human Microphysiological Systems: Organs-on-Chips for In Vitro Efficacy, Safety, and Toxicity Testing

Danilo Tagle, Associate Director for Special Initiatives, National Institutes of Health

The MPS program is a partnership between the NIH, DARPA, and the FDA. The goal of the program is to develop bio-engineered microdevices that represent functional units of the 10 major human organ systems: circulatory, respiratory, integumentary, reproductive, endocrine, gastrointestinal, nervous, urinary, musculoskeletal, and immune. The opportunities for significant advancements in the prediction of human drug toxicities through the development of microphysiological systems, requires a multi-disciplinary approach that relies on an understanding of human physiology, stem cell biology, material sciences and bioengineering. This unique and novel in vitro platform could help ensure that safe and effective therapeutics are identified sooner, and ineffective or toxic ones are rejected early in the drug development process. These microfabricated devices are also useful for modeling human diseases and may prove to be sufficient alternatives to the use of animal models. At the end of the five year funding period it is anticipated that the availability of these systems to a broader research community will foster a multitude of new research applications including, but not limited to studies in personalized medicine, environment exposures, reproduction and development, infectious diseases, cancer, countermeasures for chemical warfare, immune responses and neuro-inflammation.