Queen Mary University of London opens one of Europe’s largest organ-on-a-chip facilities

Group of people at the organ-on-chip facilities launch

Queen Mary University of London has officially opened one of Europe’s largest and most advanced organ-on-a-chip facilities, marking a significant milestone in the efforts to replace animal testing in scientific research. The state-of-the-art facility, supported by major funding from the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) and industry partners, aims to revolutionise how diseases are studied, and drugs are tested. 

The launch event, which drew industry leaders and key stakeholders, also celebrated the opening of Queen Mary’s new £7 million EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Next Generation Organ-on-a-Chip Technology. Funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPRSC), the CDT will train 60 PhD students over the next eight years, preparing them to become leaders in the development and application of this cutting edge-technology. 

Organ-on-a-chip systems consist of living cells within miniature bioengineered plastic ‘chips’ mimicking key features of human organs within a laboratory setting. These devices enable researchers to better study diseases and accurately test drugs, reducing reliance on animal testing and accelerating delivery of new therapeutics. The technology is a cornerstone of worldwide efforts to reduce the use of animals in scientific research.

Professor Hazel Screen, Principal Investigator on both grants, and co-director of the Queen Mary Centre for Predictive in vitro Models highlighted the significance of this milestone: “Collectively, this new facility and the CDT offer incredibly exciting opportunities for us to bring the organ-chip community together. We can drive innovative organ-chip research, train a new generation of multidisciplinary research leaders in the field, and bring this exciting technology a step closer to translatory impact.”  

Lord Patrick Vallance, Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation said: “Phasing out animal testing where possible is a clear goal of this government and innovative methods, like organ-on-a-chip technology, are essential to delivering that ambition.  

“Queen Mary University’s new facility and the new Centre for Doctoral Training, supported by Government funding, presents a significant opportunity to place the UK at the forefront of developing these alternatives further, allowing vital research and development to continue while supporting animal welfare, protecting the public and growing our economy,” he adds. 

Professor Martin Knight, Dean for Research at the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Queen Mary, added: “Queen Mary’s Centre for Predictive in vitro Models is actively working with industry, regulatory authorities, government, charities and other stakeholders to drive forward this technology supporting life science research and accelerating delivery of safe and effective therapeutics for the benefit of wider society.” 

The new facility cements Queen Mary’s position as a global leader in organ-on-a-chip research, accelerating the development and adoption of these transformative technologies.