(Web Desk) – Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute in the UK have created an advanced “lung-on-a-chip” model using stem cells from a single individual, allowing scientists to study how a person’s lung responds to respiratory infections such as tuberculosis.
The technology, led by Dr Max Gutierrez, represents a major shift in medical treatment. By testing therapies on a miniature version of a patient’s own lung, researchers can tailor treatments more effectively while reducing reliance on animal experiments.
The model uses organ-on-a-chip technology, with lung cells cultured on a thin membrane inside a device that mimics natural breathing. This setup enables precise observation of early interactions between immune cells and disease-causing bacteria.
Unlike previous models that relied on mixed cells from multiple donors, this approach uses genetically identical cells from a single individual, opening new avenues for studying disease progression and personalized therapies.
Laboratory tests showed the lung’s cellular barrier breaking down five days after tuberculosis infection, replicating early stages of the disease in humans.
The breakthrough comes amid global efforts to develop alternatives to animal testing and advance personalized medicine, which considers individual differences in disease response and treatment outcomes.
