Tissue Chips in Space: Modeling Human Diseases in Microgravity

• Published in: Pharmaceutical research Vol. 37; no. 1; pp. 8 - 6
• Main Authors: Low, Lucie A., Giulianotti, Marc A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.01.2020; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal models; Animals; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Biomedicine; Cells; Discovery and exploration; Humans; Laboratories; Medical Law; Medicines in Space; Microfluidics; Microgravity; Organs; Outer space; Perspective; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Pharmacy; Space Flight; Space stations; Tissue engineering; Tissue Engineering - methods; United States; Weightlessness; United States; International Space Station; Microphysiological systems; Disease modeling; Organs on chips; Tissue chips; Microgravity
• ISSN: 0724-8741; 1573-904X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11095-019-2742-0

Purpose Microphysiological systems (MPS), also known as “organs-on-chips” or “tissue chips,” leverage recent advances in cell biology, tissue engineering, and microfabrication to create in vitro models of human organs and tissues. These systems offer promising solutions for modeling human physiology and disease in vitro and have multiple applications in areas where traditional cell culture and animal models fall short. Recently, the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory have coordinated efforts to facilitate the launch and use of these MPS platforms onboard the ISS. Here, we provide an introduction to the NIH Tissue Chips in Space initiative and an overview of the coordinated efforts between NIH and the ISS National Laboratory. We also highlight the current progress in addressing the scientific and technical challenges encountered in the development of these ambitious projects. Finally, we describe the potential impact of the Tissue Chips in Space program for the MPS field as well as the wider biomedical and health research communities.