Author Archives: hDMT

Researchers grow most lifelike woven bone yet starting from cells

Researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology and Radboudumc have interwoven various bone cells into an ‘organoid’ that can independently make new, hard bone tissue. It’s the most complete 3D model of bone formation to date. The 3D model allows for the study of the key biochemical processes in unprecedented detail and could help in cracking the many mysteries surrounding bone formation. Moreover, the lab-grown bone is particularly suitable for testing and designing new treatments for bone diseases such as osteoporosis or osteogenesis imperfecta. Imagine using stem cells from your bone marrow to grow a new piece of your bone tissue...

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Mieke Schutte (outgoing Managing Director of hDMT)

Why are you leaving hDMT? Since my arrival at hDMT in 2015 I have combined my 2-day position as its managing director with another position at the Lorentz Center. The combination of hDMT with the Lorentz Center has always been a natural balance. I believe in hDMT as an innovative and constructive research organization and I was therefore very happy to continue to be part of the hDMT management when I moved to manage the Mathematical Institute of Leiden University last year. However, it turned out that the Mathematical Institute requires my full-time commitment. I found it difficult to be...

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Welcome and farewell

Spring 2021 has brought changes in the hDMT organization. Mieke Schutte, managing director and member of the hDMT Executive Board, has left hDMT after five years. Mieke has been vital for building up the hDMT consortium in its current form, by stimulating scientists from academia and companies to collaborate and develop Organ-on-Chip models. As crown on her work the 4.8 M euro SMART OoC project was awarded by NWO to a multidisciplinary team of 10 researchers affiliated with hDMT and 26 private partners. The prestigious grant enables standardization as the next step in maturation and acceptance of Organ-on-Chip technology. We are...

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3Rs student grants 2021: call for submissions

The European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing (EPAA) supports students and young scientists with outstanding work in the field of alternative approaches to attend a high-profile scientific event. Every year, several high-profile international meetings bring together world-class scientists working on the development and acceptance of 3R alternatives to animal testing (Replacement, Reduction or Refinement). Costs linked to participation may prevent students with promising work or young scientists at the beginning of their career from attending these events. The EPAA partners are therefore happy to sponsor the 3Rs student grants to facilitate the participation of students and young scientists in such...

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2021 edition of the ‘Putting Science into Standards’ (PSIS) workshop open for registration

The 2021 edition of the ‘Putting Science into Standards’ (PSIS) workshop will focus on Organ-on-Chip and is now open for registration. hDMT scientists are involved in the organization of the workshop as members of the Advisory Board. The 2021 PSIS edition will be focusing on Organ-on-Chip (OoC). This event aims to facilitate the exchange of views on the future development of this technology, its application areas and stakeholder needs in order to identify how European standardization can support its safe, widescale deployment, and by doing so also: • facilitate their implementation in the current and future regulatory framework; • support with reliable...

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The Organoid Cell Atlas project

Human organoids hold tremendous potential for biomedical applications. These three-dimensional structures of cultured cells recapitulate important aspects of in vivo organ development and biological function. They provide tractable in vitro models of human physiology and pathology, thereby enabling interventional studies that are difficult or impossible to conduct in human subjects. To demonstrate the feasibility and utility of combining human organoids with single-cell technology, the authors of the publication The Organoid Cell Atlas launched an Organoid Cell Atlas pilot project, as a ‘Biological Network’ within the Human Cell Atlas (HCA), focusing on the single-cell characterization of organoids and complex in vitro...

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New updated release available of Stem Cells: Scientific Facts and Fiction

Recently a new release of the book Stem Cells: Scientific Facts and Fiction by Christine Mummery, Anja van de Stolpe, Bernard Roelen and Hans Clevers, has been published. The book has updated chapters with new illustrations on Organs-on-Chip and Organoid models for understanding disease mechanisms and testing drugs as well as a general introduction to stem cells. Particularly suited for those just starting in the field or for teaching. The book Stem Cells: Scientific Facts and Fiction, Third Edition, provides a state-of-the-art overview of the field of stem cells and their current applications. The book incorporates the history and firsthand commentaries in...

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George Galaris joined LACDR and TNO to further 3D spheroid-based Liver-on-Chip research

In January 2021, George Galaris joined the Metabolic Health Research group at TNO, location Leiden, and the Division of Drug Discovery & Safety at Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR) as a post-doctoral researcher. Previously, Galaris performed his PhD studies at Leiden University Medical Centre (Nephrology Department) in the group of Franck Lebrin where he utilized mouse models and embryonic stem cell-based tools to study the mechanisms of a genetic vascular disease called Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). Within the hDMT consortium, he will be involved in a multidisciplinary and collaborative project about developing a perfused 3D spheroid-based Liver-on-Chip model...

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€ 4.8 million grant for revolutionary modular and standardized SMART OoC platform

NWO has awarded the prestigious Perspectief grant to a multidisciplinary team of 10 researchers affiliated with hDMT. The € 4.8 million grant makes it possible to take the next much needed step in Organ-on-Chip (OoC) technology: a standardized docking plate with microfluidics and electronics where technical and tissue chips are clicked in as needed – together: the SMART OoC. Uniquely, the tissues also contain their microenvironment, enabling modeling of fibrosis. Fibrosis is a common, disruptive disease that is a complicating factor in many organ diseases. Schematic representation of the SMART OoC, with one tissue chip of skin and hair and...

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Recording of the Workshop on Microphysiological Systems: Bridging Human and Animal Research is now available for viewing.

The recording of the Workshop on Microphysiological Systems (MPS): Bridging Human and Animal Research that was held on January 19-20, 2021 is now available for viewing. You can watch the recording here.

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