QMUL Centre for Predictive in vitro Models News

CPM welcomes over 200 attendees at the UK Organ-On-A-Chip Annual Symposium

josephine.wu@qmul.ac.uk (Josephine Wu) — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Nearly 200 researchers, innovators and stakeholders from across academia, industry and the wider research community gathered at Queen Mary University of London's Charterhouse Square campus for the UK Organ-On-A-Chip Annual Symposium, hosted by the Centre for Predictive in vitro Models (CPM). The symposium brought together experts developing the next generation of human-relevant in vitro models, with presentations highlighting advances in organ-on-a-chip technologies, disease modelling, safety assessment and new approach methodologies. The programme featured a keynote presentation from Professor Cathy Vickers, Head of Innovation at NC3Rs, exploring developments and opportunities in the NAMs landscape. Attendees also heard invited lectures from Dr Ben Johnson presenting on behalf of Professor Christine Mummery (Leiden University), Prof Chris Denning (University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute), and Prof Amir Ghaemmaghami (University of Nottingham). Other speakers selected from submitted abstracts included Dr Ed Carter, who discussed pancreatic cancer models incorporating pain-related readouts, and Dr Catrin Bevan, who showcased emerging organ-chip models of tendon biology. The poster session provided opportunities for networking and collaboration between researchers, industry partners and technology developers, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the field. The event was organised by Professor Julien Gautrot and supported by a range of sponsors and partners, including the RSPCA, CN Bio, Emulate, CELLINK, Exciting Instruments and ioLight Compact Microscopes. Their support helped facilitate a day of scientific exchange, networking and discussion around the future of advanced human model systems. The symposium also provided an opportunity to welcome the second cohort of doctoral researchers joining the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Next Generation Organ-on-a-Chip Technology (COaCT). The new students will undertake industry-linked PhD projects spanning organ-on-a-chip technologies and other advanced in vitro model systems, helping to build the next generation of researchers in the field. As interest in human-relevant model systems continues to accelerate, the annual symposium remains an important forum for sharing innovations, building collaborations and supporting the development of the next generation of researchers and technologies.

COaCT welcomes second cohort of PhD students

josephine.wu@qmul.ac.uk (Josephine Wu) — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 23:00:00 GMT

The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Next Generation Organ-on-a-Chip Technology (COaCT) has welcomed its second cohort of PhD researchers, marking another milestone in the growth of the programme at Queen Mary University of London. To celebrate the start of the academic year, students and supervisors from both the first and second cohorts came together for a rooftop networking event on campus. The gathering provided an opportunity for new and returning members of the COaCT community to meet, share experiences, and strengthen the collaborative relationships that underpin the CDT. Since its launch, COaCT has continued to build a multidisciplinary community spanning engineering, biology, medicine and the life sciences, equipping doctoral researchers with the knowledge and skills needed to advance next-generation organ-on-a-chip technologies. With two cohorts now established, the programme continues to expand its network of academic, clinical and industrial collaborators. Planning is already underway for recruitment to the third cohort, with opportunities available for industry partners interested in helping shape future doctoral research projects and contributing to training the next generation of researchers in the field. The Centre looks forward to supporting its newest students as they begin their PhD journeys and to following the impact of their research in the years ahead.

New insights into distinct tendon cell populations provide a foundation for future in vitro models

josephine.wu@qmul.ac.uk (Josephine Wu) — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have established the first defined culture framework for the long-term isolation and maintenance of enriched interfascicular matrix (IFM) and fascicular matrix (FM) cell populations. Published in Advanced Science, the study led by Prof Hazel Screen and Dr Simon Grossemy demonstrates that IFM cells represent a highly mechanosensitive tendon cell population, showing marked changes in morphology, proliferation and gene expression in response to substrate stiffness. Importantly, these characteristics were partially recoverable under compliant culture conditions that better mimic the native IFM environment. The work provides a new platform for studying tendon cell heterogeneity and mechanobiology in vitro, while supporting the development of more physiologically relevant models of tendon function and disease.

Dr Emma Chambers awarded BBSRC New Investigator Research Grant to investigate menopause and ...

josephine.wu@qmul.ac.uk (Josephine Wu) — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Dr Emma Chambers, Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Immunobiology and Infection at the Blizard Institute, has been awarded a £1.1 million Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) New Investigator Research Grant (NIRG) to advance our understanding of how menopause affects immune function. The project will build on recent work from the Chambers Lab exploring how menopause influences the phenotype and function of mononuclear phagocytes, a key group of immune cells involved in inflammation, tissue homeostasis and host defence. The research aims to uncover how hormonal changes during menopause alter immune cell behaviour and contribute to health outcomes in later life. A central component of the programme will be the use of human-relevant in vitro models to investigate the impact of menopause on mononuclear phagocyte biology, in collaboration with Professor John Connelly. Another pillar will be to dissect the metabolic consequences of menopause on monocyte biology, in collaboration with Professor Sian Henson. The research will help close a critical gap in our understanding of menopause and immunity while showcasing the power of predictive in vitro models to address important blind spots in women's health and support healthier ageing.

Interview with Sunday Times magazine - Will animal testing ever end?

m.m.knight@qmul.ac.uk (Martin Knight) — Sat, 30 May 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Professor Hazel Screen and Professor Martin Knight, Co-Directors of Queen Mary's Centre for Predictive in vitro Models, spoke to The Times about animal testing in scientific research. Read the article: Will animal testing ever end? The UK does 2.6 million procedures a year

Centre for Predictive in vitro Models at Queen Mary's Night of Science & Engineering

josephine.wu@qmul.ac.uk (Josephine Wu) — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

A week on, we're still reflecting on the excitement of Queen Mary's Night of Science & Engineering! The event brought together over 400 guests, including our affiliates, industry partners, and wider community, to celebrate the latest research across Queen Mary University of London. The Centre for Predictive in vitro Models was proud to showcase our work, from advanced predictive assays to organ-on-chip systems. Backed by the continued support of our community, we can keep translating our research from the lab into solutions that deliver real-world societal benefits. We'd like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening so inspiring and hope you will join us again next year!

45,000 people watch Will Young's visit to Queen Mary

m.m.knight@qmul.ac.uk (Martin Knight) — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

It was fantastic to host musician Will Young, as he visited the Queen Mary Centre for Predcitive in vitro Models to learn more about how organ-on-a-chip technology may be used to reduce the use of animals in science. An organ-chip is a miniture device in which living cells can be grown to recreate the biology of human tissues and organs within a laboratory. These organ-chips can then be used for fundamental research and for testing new products and therapies, to provide a more accurate prediction of the way our bodies behave in health and disease. Bioengineers and scientists at Queen Mary are conducting world leading research to develop these organ-chip models, creating the right conditions within the chips so that the cells behave as they do in the body. The team made a short video clip about Will's visit which has now been seen by over 45 thousand people on Instagram. This is all part of Queen Mary's drive to raise awareness of this transformative organ-chip technology and conduct the research and development essential to translating these devices into industry inorder to accelerate the availability of new medicines and reduce animal testing.

Beginning of the end?

h.r.c.screen@qmul.ac.uk (Hazel Screen) — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Hazel Screen, Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Queen Mary and co-director of the Centre for Predictive in vitro Models, spoke to The Guardian's Science Weekly podcast about what the potential of in vitro models to be used in research to replace the use of animal models.

Queen Mary launches world's first masters degree in organ-on-a-chip technology

a.wilkes@qmul.ac.uk (Ayden Wilkes) — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Queen Mary is proud to launch a new specialist bioengineering programme, MSc Organ-on-a-Chip Technologies, now open for September 2026 applications. Delivered within the renowned Centre for Predictive In Vitro Models, the course provides advanced training in next-generation organ-on-a-chip, tissue engineering and in vitro technologies. Following the Government's recently announced strategy to reduce the use of animals in science, non-animal research methods are gaining increased attention, and organ-on-a-chip technology has been named as a priority area for future investment. Organ-chip technologies enable the creation of realistic, human-centred models that advance understanding of disease mechanisms and therapeutic responses, with the potential for more accurate results than animal models. The MSc course will be industry-led, preparing students to shape the future of healthcare. As well as learning from globally-leading academics in the field, students will benefit from a network of 150+ industry affiliates across pharma, biotech, and regulatory agencies, including GSK, AstraZeneca, Baxter and the RSPCA. In addition to gaining technical expertise in biomedical engineering, students will also develop transferable skills in project management, entrepreneurship, ethics, and regulatory affairs. Graduates can expect career opportunities within research, consultancy, regulatory bodies, and more. This course follows the launch of a Centre for Doctoral Training in organ-on-a-chip technology at Queen Mary's CPM in 2025 – utilising £7 million in funding to train a new generation of experts in this future-facing technology. The Centre for Predictive In Vitro Models is one of the largest and most pioneering centres of its kind in the world, bringing together experts in 2D and 3D cell culture models, organoids, microphysiological systems, organ-on-a-chip technology and other non-animal methods.

QMUL team qualify an organ-chip model of breast cancer metastasis using a multi-omics approach

s.verbruggen@qmul.ac.uk (Stefaan Verbruggen) — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have developed and rigorously qualified a new organ-on-a-chip model that replicates the early stages of breast cancer bone metastasis, offering a promising alternative to animal studies. The microfluidic system brings together osteocytes, osteoclasts and breast cancer cells in a dynamic tri-culture, but its real advance lies in the comprehensive multi-omics validation undertaken by the team. By integrating RNA sequencing, cytokine profiling and high-content imaging, the researchers demonstrated that the chip faithfully reproduces key molecular and cellular signatures seen in established in vivo animal models. This robust, data-driven qualification provides a new benchmark for evidence-based confidence in organ-chip technologies, positioning the platform as a scalable tool for mechanistic studies and future drug screening. The study underscores the Centre for Predictive in vitro Models' commitment to developing human-relevant, well-validated alternatives to animal research. This work was funded by an EPSRC-CRUK multidisciplinary award and was a collaboration between bioengineers at the Centre for Bioengineering and the Centre for Predictive in vitro Models, and biologists at Barts Cancer Institute.

Will Young visits Queen Mary to explore alternatives to Animal Testing

m.m.knight@qmul.ac.uk (Martin Knight) — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A group of high-profile guests visited Queen Mary's Centre for Predictive In Vitro Models on Tuesday 11th November, to explore the university's cutting-edge organ-on-a-chip facilities. The delegation included musician and animal advocate Will Young, a Director and Toxicologist from Lush cosmetics, and representatives from the charity Animal Aid. The group took part in presentations and workshops showcasing how organ-on-a-chip technology has the potential to revolutionise personalised medicine, speed up drug discovery, and significantly reduce the need for animals in scientific research. Professor Martin Knight led hands-on demonstrations of the technology in action, assisted by post-doctoral researchers, who showed the group commercial organ-chip platforms from Emulate, CN Bio and Mimetas, which are used for different applications. The visitors enjoyed pipetting into the chips and learning about how the different models work to mimic the environment of the human body. Organ-on-a-chip innovations have the potential to revolutionise treatments for cancers, heart, liver and kidney diseases, and much more. The visit took place on the day the Government announced a new strategy to reduce the use of animals in science, which names organ-on-a-chip technology as a priority area for future investment. Professor Hazel Screen, Head of the School of Engineering and Materials Science, said: "It was incredibly exciting to host the visit on the day the new strategy was announced, and we're equally excited to continue sharing our understanding of this technology with a wide range of stakeholders." Speaking at the visit, Karl Bygrave, Director at Lush, said: "Given that the Government announced its strategy for phasing out animal testing today, it was an amazing time to be here to see new models being developed, and the future of non-animal labs." "This technology is very exciting for Lush, what we're seeing is the future. As a cosmetics manufacturer, this technology will filter down to us, and in a number of years we will be using this for our own purposes, to check the safety of our products." Will Young said: "I feel very excited about the future. The aim is to have better science, better medicine and no abuse to animals – and today has shown me that that's possible." Queen Mary has recently launched the world's first taught master's degree in organ-on-a-chip technology, along with a Centre for Doctoral Training that will equip the next generation of specialists in the field. The university's organ-on-a-chip research is carried out in close collaboration with more than 150 affiliate organisations across the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and regulatory sectors, ensuring that the technologies developed directly address industry needs.

The Centre for Predictive in vitro Models provide expert comment on new Government strategy

m.m.knight@qmul.ac.uk (Martin Knight) — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Academics at the Centre for Predictive in vitro Models at Queen Mary University of London, have provided expert comment to the BBC about the new alternatives strategy launched today (11 November) by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Watch Queen Mary experts speak to the BBC about the Government's new alternatives strategy on 11 November from 6.10am. This new strategy outlines the Government's vision of eliminating the use of animals in research and development in all but exceptional circumstances, and sets out a plan to achieve this by replacing animals with alternative methods wherever possible. To explain more about this strategy, what these alternatives are and how they work, BBC's Pallab Ghosh spoke to Queen Mary academics Professor Hazel Screen, who co-directs the Queen Mary's Centre for Preventative in vitro Models (CPM) with her colleague Professor Martin Knight, and Professor Fran Balkwill, Deputy Lead at the University's Centre for Tumour Microenvironment. Listen to Professor Hazel Screen and Professor Fran Balkwill speak about the strategy on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme on 11 November at 7.30am-7.40am. Professor Screen spoke to Pallab about the world-leading research work she and her colleagues are carrying out at Queen Mary's CPM. This centre, which has state-of-the-art facilities including organ-on-a-chip technology, aims to develop the next generation of predictive in vitro models that can be used to reduce the use of animals in research. Researchers in the CPM are developing a wide range of approaches to study conditions such as arthritis, inflammation, cancer and cardiovascular disease. By working with pharmaceutical companies and other end users, researchers aim to maximise the adoption of these alternative methods in order to drive human-relevant science and accelerate the development of better medicines. Professor Balkwill spoke to Pallab about her research into complex multi-cellular models of ovarian cancer, which include the tumour microenvironment. These models, often referred to as organoids, provide a 3D multi-cellular model of ovarian cancer which allows Professor Balkwill and her team to understand things like cell-to-cell communication in the tumour microenvironment, test new biological therapies and study sensitivity and resistance to T cell killing. As well as delivering world leading research developing and using these alternative methods, Queen Mary is also pioneering in the UK and globally when it comes to educating and training the researchers in this field. They are doing this via their EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in next generation organ-on-a-chip technologies, which has welcomed its first cohort of PhD students, and the world's first Master's Degree Programme for organ-on-a-chip technology, which has recently opened to applications. Through these education programmes, world leading research and industry engagement, Queen Mary is ideally placed to help achieve the Government's aim of reducing the use of animals in science.

Prof Knight interviewed in the Metro about Alternatives strategy

m.m.knight@qmul.ac.uk (Martin Knight) — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Prof Knight was interviewed by the Metro related to the publication of the Governments strategy on replacing animals in science through development of 'alternative methods' such as organ-on-a-chip technology. Watch the interview and read the article in the Metro