News

Queen Mary's Centre for Predictive in vitro Models hosted a fastic afternoon of science and bioengineering at the UK organ-on-a-chip Annual Symposium. The event was attended by nearly 300 people, including 100 online, with representatives from academia, industry, Government, charities and other stakeholders. There were flash talks from four talented Early Career Researchers at the Centre, and then four inspiring keynote presentations from:

• Professor Ignacio Ochoa (University of Zaragoza)
• Professor Rocky Tuan (Chinese University of Hong Kong / University of Pittsburgh)
• Professor Roisin Owens (University of Cambridge)
• Professor Cathy Merry (University of Nottingham)

Dr Anthony Holmes from NC3Rs gave an excellent presentation. His talk entitled "Innovate, Integrate, Regulate: MPS technologies in the global life sciences arena" explored initiatives across the World which are building momentum in the drive to deliver more human relevant science and replace the use of animals.

Prof Martin Knight and Prof Hazel Screen, presented the journey from running the UK Organ-on-a-chip network, to co-directing the Centre for Predictive in vitro Models, which now has over 70 academics, the most extensive organ-chip facilities in the UK, industrial affiliates from over 100 organisation, and a new Centre for Doctoral Training. The Centre hosts the Annual Symposium and will soon be running a eSymposia series enabling researchers from across the Globe to join monthly online seminars sharing exciting research associated with organ-on-a-chip technology, organoids, and other forms of predictive in vitro models.

Finally, Dr Emily Richardson from CN Bio presented some of their lovely work on the development, qualification and validation of microphysiological systems for translating safety risks to the clinic.

The Symposium also celebrated the launch of Queen Mary's new EPSRC Centre for doctoral training in next generation Organ-on-a-chip Technology (COaCT). We have a fantastic group of 15 new PhD students, all with industry sponsors, tackling a wide range of projects associated with the development of innovative organ-chip models and underpinning technology. The PhD students, joined with supervisors, and industry partners for a launch party after the symposium, and are now beginning an intensive few weeks of events including an organ-chip training course in our in vitro models facilities.