Organs- and Tissues-on-Chips

Organizer(s): Christopher P. Austin, Danilo Tagle, Christine L. Mummery and Brian R. Berridge

Sponsored by Merck & Co., Inc.

Summary of Meeting:

More than 30% of promising medications have failed in human clinical trials because they are determined to be toxic despite promising pre-clinical studies in 2-D cell culture and animal models. Another 60% fail due to lack of efficacy. Consequently, though several thousand diseases affect humans, only about 500 have approved treatments. However, with the growing understanding of human biology, along with increased availability of innovative technologies, there is now an unprecedented opportunity to translate scientific discoveries more efficiently into new, more effective and safer health interventions. Organs- or Tissues-on-Chips are innovative, alternative approaches that would enable early indications and potentially more reliable readouts of toxicity and efficacy. These microfabricated devices recapitulate the multicellular architectures, tissue-tissue interfaces, physicochemical microenvironments, vascular perfusion and innervation, producing in essence microphysiological systems that mimic human tissue and organ functionality not possible with conventional 2D or 3D culture systems. Through innovative biosensing and readout approaches, these devices employ high-resolution, real-time imaging and non-invasive analysis of biochemical, genetic and metabolic activities of living cells in a functional tissue and organ context. This technology has great potential to advance the study of tissue development, organ physiology and disease etiology. In the context of drug discovery and development, it should be especially valuable for the study of molecular mechanisms of action, prioritization of lead candidates, toxicity testing and biomarker identification. These microfabricated devices have also proven to be useful for modeling human diseases. This conference will touch on ongoing efforts and various applications of tissue-on-chips technology to studies in precision medicine, environmental exposures, reproduction and development, cancer and for use at the International Space Station.

Scholarship Deadline: December 6 2017

Discounted Abstract Deadline: December 6 2017

Abstract Deadline: January 9 2018

Discounted Registration Deadline: February 6 2018

Keystone Symposia thanks our Sponsor(s) for generously supporting this meeting:

We gratefully acknowledge additional support for this conference from:

We gratefully acknowledge the generous grant for this conference provided by:

National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
Grant No. 1R13EB026338-01
Funding for this conference was made possible (in part) by 1R13EB026338-01 from the National Institutes of Health. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

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