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Fraunhofer – A plug-and-play human

EARTO Innovation Awards 2018 – Impact Expected Category

Third Prize

 

  Microphysiological systems that can reproduce the basic functions of the human body are considered the key to innovative new products in fields from drug development and toxicology screening to personalised medicine and disease modelling. Multi-organ systems have the greatest potential, but they also come with the greatest challenge: balancing the complexity required to authentically mimic human physiology with the need for simplicity to ensure usability and cost efficiency. Fraunhofer has risen to this challenge with its plug-and-play Multi-Organ-Chip (MOC) system which enables tailor-made application-specific microphysiological systems to be assembled quickly and easily. Introducing valuable adaptability and universality and reducing the cost of customised systems make this innovation a game-changer. It provides access to a market growing at 60% a year and gives a greater number of global researchers’ access to a powerful alternative to animal testing and in vitro testing systems.     Getting personal about healthcare The rise of personalised medicine is revolutionising the way clinicians and pharmaceutical companies approach disease and paving the way for safer and more effective treatments. Microphysiological systems incorporating chips set up for each patient based on their cell material have the potential to bring about the required paradigm shift in our understanding of how individuals will respond to active substances. Most systems are, however, still limited to the implementation of one specific application at a time. As the effects of pharmaceutical compounds and chemicals are not limited to just one organ, there is global demand for a flexible system suitable for all applications that can mimic multiple organs and the intricate cascade of interconnected inter-organ events.   Simulating whole organ systems EARTO member Fraunhofer created the world’s first fully customisable MOC platform within a closed circulation system. This universal plug-and-play system is made up of a variety of ultra-compact tissue cell culture modules and basic chips with integrated micropumps, valves, reservoirs, mass exchangers and sensors that can be freely combined with each other according to the specific application. This makes it possible to individually control the flow rate and nutrient concentrations for each tissue, guaranteeing the demand-oriented supply of tissues and organs whose absence has been a key limitation of existing systems   Bringing better treatments to life The new platform will provide the most comprehensive and cost-effective technology for observing the effects of drugs in the body and investigating drug toxicity and efficacy in various organs. As well as helping to accelerate the development of drugs and realise the potential of individualised treatments, it will also bring forward the time organs can be grown to perform organ-specific functions for a short period to mitigate the decline in organ donations. The platform is expected to help European companies secure 30% of the rapidly-growing MOC market over the next five years, equating to volume of more than €50m a year.  

© Photos Credit: Fraunhofer