In Vitro Organ Imaging Device (IV-OID) with integrated Biosensing and Real-Time Imaging Capability: Proof-of-Principle using a Human Placental Model

Bringing a new drug or a vaccine to the market is a complex task for both researchers and drug manufacturers. Recent studies reported that the costs of developing a drug had nearly doubled every decade between 1950 and 2010. Today's drug or vaccine candidates are more likely to fail in clinical trials compared to 40-years ago.

Different reasons have been put forth explaining the high failure rate, one of them being that preclinical models cannot fully recapitulate the human physiology. Hence, the need for more complex and predictive in vitro models which can better mimic the human response to drug or vaccine is essential.

Here, we propose to develop a novel technological platform i..e, an In Vitro Organ Imaging Device (IV-OID) based on the use of hollow fibre technology and imaging-compatible materials. The platform aims to address the following objectives:

(a) Creation of a human tissue surrogate platform that researchers can use e.g., to test drugs, in lieu of animals or humans.

(c) Engineering of an organ-like model systems as a means of providing insight into the mechanisms underlying infectious diseases. (b) High-resolution visualisation of how pathogens behave and lead to diseases using state-of-the art microscopes.

Our technological platform will be validated through the set up of a human placental model and the evaluation of its barrier functions in relation to microbial pathogens such as Toxoplasma Gondii. If successful, the IV-OID will be made available to the wider academic and industrial communities through our industrial project partner, Flocel Inc.