Organ-on-chip in development: Towards a roadmap for organs-on-chip

Abstract

Organ-on-Chip is considered a potentially game-changing technology born from the convergence of tissue engineering and microfluidic technology. Organ-on-Chip devices (OoCs) are expected to offer effective solutions to persisting problems in drug development and personalized disease treatments. This opinion paper surveys the current landscape in research, development, application and market opportunities for OoCs towards establishing a global and multi-stakeholder OoC eco-system. Based on panel discussions held at the Vision Workshop (Stuttgart, 23 May 2018) organized by the EU ORCHID consortium, as well as on additional bibliometric study, market analysis and expert interviews conducted within the EU ORCHID project, we outline perceived unmet needs, key challenges, barriers and perspectives of the field. We finally propose recommendations to-wards the definition of a comprehensive roadmap that could render OoCs realistic models of hu-man (patho)physiology in the near future.