NIH awards $15M for 3D human tissue models

[Image from Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University]

The National Institutes of Health has announced 13 2-year awards, totaling $15 million a year, for hospitals and universities to develop 3D human tissue models.

The funding will go toward the first phase of a 5-year program.

Even though pre-clinical studies using cell and animal research models are promising, more than 60% of investigational drugs fail in human trials because of ineffectiveness. The NIH hopes to change that with the funding by developing 3D microphysiological system platforms that replicate human disease. The platforms, known as tissue chips, are able to support living cells and human tissues to replicate complex biological functions of human organs and systems, creating a better way to test potential drug efficacy.

Read the whole story on our sister site, Medical Design & Outsourcing

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