Pictured: a brain organoid (by Josse Depla), photo provided by GUTVIBRATIONS
The international research consortium GUTVIBRATIONS* has recently launched a research project to develop a new and easy-to-use human model for research into viral infections.
The model will accelerate drug development, which will ultimately lead to minimizing animal testing, lower disease burden, and will save lives.
*GUTVIBRATIONS stands for: Gut Virus Brain Axis Technology In OrgaNoid Science
Developing a next-level multi-organ system
Using organ-on-a-chip technology, the researchers at GUTVIBRATIONS are developing a multi-organ-on-a-chip that mimics parts of the human body.
The so-called brain-gut axis chip combines human gut organoids, brain organoids and a blood-brain barrier in a complex model, which provides an innovative, animal-free solution for studying human diseases and developing drugs. The term brain-gut axis means that there is a direct relationship between the gut and the brain and that both are in constant communication with each other.
What is a blood brain barrier?
The blood-brain barrier is a network of blood vessels that allows important nutrients to pass through to and stops harmful substances from reaching the brain. The blood-brain barrier is important for protecting the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) and maintaining a healthy brain.
More user-friendly model
Over the last decade, several organ-on-a-chip models have been developed, such as lung-on-a-chip, blood-brain-barrier-on-a-chip and skin-on-a-chip. Unfortunately, these models are not always user-friendly or do not translate to the actual human situation.
GUTVIBRATIONS is developing a user-friendly model that is suitable for industrial purposes and that will be applicable for virological and other research. They do this through:
- combining gut organoids, brain organoids and a blood-brain-barrier in a multi-organ-on-a-chip with a stacked construction (STACKS technology),
- organoid models, and
- complex 3D tissue models for which silk proteins are used (Biosilk).
The Team
GUTVIBRATIONS consists of an international team of 7 world-leading partners from academia and industry, that combine their expertise in organ-on-a-chip technology, organoids, bioengineering, virology, immunology and cell culture. The partners are from the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Sweden and the United Kingdom. GUTVIBRATIONS is funded by the European Commission.
The consortium is coordinated by, among others, researchers Katja Wolthers and Dasja Pajkrt, who are also affiliated with Proefdiervrij.