Organoids and organ-on-chip platforms have emerged as invaluable model systems to study organogenesis and disease progression. These miniature organs derived from stem cells are crafted to recapitulate organ-specific functions and architectures. These model systems can be customized to ask specific questions such as organ development or pathogenesis and can also be used to gain new insights on their interactactions with drugs and thereby advance personalized/precision medicine. We have developed a number of organ-on-chip platforms. Our current interest in this area includes development of mini-organs from primary cells and stem cells to study: (i) mechanical nociception; (ii) cancer metastasis; (iii) fibrogenesis; (iv) mechanical injury of joints; and (v) neuroinflammation and neuro-degeneration.
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