"In vitro vascularization and perfusion of human stem cell derived organoids for use in drug testing and as models of disease, development, and function."

Michael Ferguson, a Master’s degree candidate at Boston University, has received IFER funding from 2017-2018 for his project, “In vitro vascularization and perfusion of human stem cell derived organoids for use in drug testing and as models of disease, development, and function.” Michael is working on creating a simple and low cost microfluidic device to integrate a vascular system in stem cell-derived organoids, entirely in vitro, which will allow them to better mimic the anatomy and physiology of the native tissues they are modeling. An integrated vascular system will promote the growth and maturation of the cells in the organoid. Having more sophisticated, cell-based, human-relevant research models available should lead to a reduction in animal experimentation.