Human Organ Chip Models for Nephrotoxicity Screening and Biomedical Applications

Microfluidic organ-on-a-chip platforms are redefining how we evaluate human safety and efficacy by coupling physiologically relevant microenvironments with patient-specific biology. Building on recent regulatory openness to advanced non-animal models, we leverage our engineered, induced pluripotent stem cell-derived, patient-specific kidney-on-a-chip systems to reproduce nephron-relevant structure, fluid flow, and molecular transport, enabling mechanistic interrogation of drug-induced kidney injury. This presentation will outline design principles that drive in vivo-like tissue morphogenesis and organ-level functions, and show how these dynamic platforms accelerate nephrotoxicity screening, de-risk therapeutic candidate selection, and reveal patient-to-patient variability in susceptibility. Case studies will illustrate concordance with known nephrotoxins, detection of off-targets and cardio-renal complications, and discovery of biomarkers and pathways that inform safer dosing and therapeutic development. Together, these advances position patient-specific kidney-on-a-chip models as actionable tools for predictive toxicology and drug discovery in environmental and clinical contexts.

This seminar will be held in person in Grainger Hall room 1112 and online via Zoom.
Click "More Event Information" to visit the seminar website for a link to attend virtually.
Both attendance options are free and open to all.