Research

Organ-on-a-chip, Arthritis, Animal-free, Musculoskeletal, Microenvironments

Musculoskeletal Models

PhD Title

Advancing animal-free organ-on-a-chip of arthritis using PeptiMatrix

Interests

My PhD project aims to address a key unmet need in the replacement, reduction and refinement of animal research. Given the animal replacement potential of organ-chip technologies, many hydrogels commonly used to mimic the musculoskeletal (MSK) extracellular matrix are still animal-derived, limiting their ability to fully replace animal-based materials. Through partnership with PeptiMatrix, and supervision by Prof Martin Knight and Dr Timothy Hopkins, this project aims to evaluate the feasibility of using fully synthetic and customisable peptide hydrogels in various organ-chip systems and MSK tissues. By developing animal-free matrix materials, this project seeks to advance the translational potential and ethical sustainability of organ-chip technologies.