Page 32 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2023

RESEARCH NEWS

RVC awarded grant to develop first-ever

organ-on-a-chip facility for veterinary species

VC researchers have been
awarded funding to develop a
first-of-its-kind organ-on-a-chip
Rfacility for veterinary species.
By reflecting animal tissue structures
and predicting responses to a wide
range of stimuli including to pathogens,
vaccines, environmental conditions and
cell-to-cell interactions, this technology
will help close important knowledge
gaps and reduce the number of animals
necessary for in-vivo testing.
Organs-on-chips (OoC) are systems
containing engineered or natural miniature
tissues grown inside microfluidic chips.
Developed to better mimic species
physiology, than that of traditional 2D
cell culturing, the chips can control
cell microenvironments and maintain
structures and functions for tissues and
organs, such as the blood-brain barrier,
lungs and heart, while being constantly
supplied by the necessary nutrients.
Importantly, OoC’s also help bridge the interactions. It will also support the Dirk Werling, Professor of Molecular
gap between animal and human systems, development of regenerative medicine Immunology, commented: “The organ-
allowing for drug and vaccine testing and therapies, such as stem cell therapy for on-a-chip is one of the top 10 emerging
supporting studies into how cells interact tendon, heart and eye conditions, kidney technologies and we are very proud to
with each other and pathogens, without failure and cancers in multi-cell systems. be able to establish this technology at
having to use live animal testing. This project will sit in our newly created the RVC, thus actively contributing to the
development of new treatment strategies
Funded by UK Research and Innovation, Centre for Vaccinology and Regenerative as well as further reducing the usage of
the RVC’s OoC project will help Medicine, which was established to play animals for in-vivo testing and therefore
assess the development of new a leading role in the development and contributing to the 3Rs – replacement,
vaccines and vaccine approaches by translation of vaccines and regenerative reduction and refinement.”
better understanding host-pathogen medicine approaches for animal and
human health.

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