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On the right, three cardiac organoids are beating in synchrony. The heart organoids were formed by genetically reprogramming human skin cells into beating heart cells and grouping them into a ball or spheroid in cell culture. The spheroids can then be printed into various shapes and sizes using a 3D printer. On the left, a liver organoid (darker organoid) has been fused with a heart organoid. Each organoid is about 0.25 mm in diameter.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -April 15, 2015- As part of a “Body on a Chip” project funded by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, scientists at Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, a part of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, in collaboration with partners from around the country, are developing miniature hearts, livers, blood vessels and lungs that will be used to predict the effects of chemical and biologic agents and used to test the effectiveness of potential treatments. The organoids will be connected to a system of micro-fluid channels and sensors to provide online monitoring of individual organoids and the overall organoid system. This approach has the potential to reduce the need for testing in animals, which is expensive, slow and provides results that aren’t always applicable to people.
To learn more about the “Body on a Chip” project at Wake Forest Baptist, please click here.
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Karen Richardson: krchrdsn@wakehealth.edu, 336-716-4453
Mac Ingraham: mingraha@wakehealth.edu, 336-716-3487