Technology News: Lab on a Chip

The Wall Street Journal recently featured “organs on a chip”, an innovative practice that is helping researchers around the globe dive into a new world of drug discovery. Unveiled by researchers at Harvard University’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering in 2010, this technology could give researchers a deeper understanding of various health conditions and possible treatments.

Dr. John Wikswo, Gordon A. Cain University professor of biomedical engineering, A.B. Learned Professor of living state physics , professor of biomedical engineering, molecular physiology and biophysics, and physics, presented on the topic at TEDx Nashville in April 2013.

“There are a couple hundred scientists, physicians and engineers worldwide trying to build homunculi, and you might wonder why,” Wikswo told the crowd in his introductory remarks. “Human biology is very complex. Homunculi are going to help us understand physiology, they are going help us improve drug development, and they are going to help us advance environmental toxicology."

Watch a video of his entire presentation here.

Check out similar microfluidic lab on a chip research technologies available for licensing from Vanderbilt or visit the Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education (VIIBRE) to learn more about our new research programs.