Scientists use ‘lung-on-a-chip’ for tuberculosis research

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute in the UK have created a ‘lung-on-a-chip’ using stem cells from a single individual.

The new model allows scientists to study how a person’s lungs respond to infections, including tuberculosis, in a highly controlled environment.

Led by Dr. Max Gutierrez, the innovation is a major step forward in personalized medicine. It enables treatments tailored to individual patients.

The technology grows lung cells on a thin membrane inside a device that mimics natural breathing. This setup closely replicates human lung conditions.

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Unlike previous models using cells from multiple donors, this method uses genetically identical cells, improving study of disease progression and patient-specific responses.

Laboratory tests showed that the lung’s cellular barrier began breaking down five days after tuberculosis infection, accurately representing early stages of the disease.

This breakthrough reduces reliance on animal experiments while advancing personalized medicine, supporting global efforts to create safer and more targeted therapies.