Developing and qualifying cell culture models that mimic healthy and diseased human tissues based on Organ-On-Chip technology
Imagine a world where medical breakthroughs are driven by cutting-edge technology and ethical innovation. Traditional animal models have limitations in predicting human responses to diseases and treatments. The use of laboratory animals is controversial for ethical reasons. But now, an excellent solution has emerged. The Institute for human organ and Disease Model Technologies (hDMT) is spearheading a revolution in medical research through the use of Organs-on-Chips. Organs-on-Chips, powered by living human cells, replicate the intricate complexity of human organs with high accuracy. Researchers gain invaluable insights into disease mechanisms and test potential therapies more efficiently than ever.
About hDMT
hDMT is a consortium comprising the hDMT foundation and 16 partner organizations. hDMT wants to develop human tissue models with Organ-on-Chip technology for disease research and implementation of these models in various fields. Researchers from different disciplines, from technologists and biologists to pharmacologists and clinicians, share their complementary expertise, facilities and ideas as a community. The partners do research and the foundation supports the partners. hDMT is a not-for-profit organization with a policy of open-access publication, which uses the partner infrastructure.
As one of the partner organisations, Organ on Chip Centre Twente (University of Twente) we add our expertise on BioNano Technology, Microfluidic devices, Organic and polymer chemistry, Membrane process technology, Biofabrication technology and 3D manufacturing of scaffolds, and Technology inspired regenerative scaffolds. The consortium can benefit from state-of-the-art facilities such as the MESA+ NanoLab (clean lab) for nanofabrication.
Collaborative Innovation
In collaboration with the Technical Medical Centre, we have access to a regional ecosystem of companies and hospitals. Our broad network of national and international partners helps us to create impact and innovation. Together with many academic and industrial partners, we develop a platform to provide infrastructure for automated microfluidic chip control. The Translational Organ-on-Chip Platform (TOP) enables the seamless integration of components, overcoming the lack of standardisation. TOP is open to academic and commercial chip developers and will become the USB of the Organ-on-Chip research field. At OoCCT we want to provide services to researchers and companies outside of the University of Twente. We can give them access to the technology developed here in order to accelerate innovation and real-world application of Organs-on-Chips.
