Molecular Physiology Laboratory and HSE.Tech Release Video on Biochips and Organs-on-a-Chip in “±10 Minutes.HSE.Tech” Series
The Molecular Physiology Laboratory at HSE University, together with the HSE.Tech portal, has produced a two-part video for the “±10 Minutes.HSE.Tech” series. The episodes explain organ-on-a-chip technology, its operating principles, medical applications, and the prospects of biochips for personalized therapy and artificial organs.
In modern medicine, microfluidic technologies offer truly revolutionary possibilities—from growing mini-organs to precise drug selection. This topic is explored by Evgeny Knyazev, Head of the Molecular Physiology Laboratory at HSE University, in a new video created in partnership with HSE.Tech for the “±10 Minutes.HSE.Tech” series.
In the first episode, the project hosts introduce viewers to the concept of an “organ-on-a-chip”—a miniature device in which microchannels and porous membranes recreate real organ blood flow, mechanical forces, and metabolic exchange. Such biochips overcome the limitations of traditional 2D cultures and animal experiments by providing three-dimensional tissue architecture and more accurate physiological modeling.
The second episode explains how organs-on-chip are becoming key tools in the pharmaceutical industry and personalized medicine. The technology allows testing new drugs without animal use, reducing the time and cost of drug development from the usual 10–15 years and $2.5 billion, and creating individualized models to optimize treatment regimens. The global organ-on-a-chip market is expected to grow from $130 million in 2024 to $1.4 billion by 2032.
Special attention is given to practical cases from HSE University’s Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology: testing personalized cancer therapy on a “cancer-on-a-chip” model; assessing oncological drug permeability in pregnant models via “placenta-on-a-chip”; comparing drug metabolism in a “liver-on-a-chip” with patient data and computational models; and modeling and comparing molecular-genetic markers in an “intestine-on-a-chip” versus traditional 2D culture and mouse models. These examples demonstrate not only scientific progress but also real potential to translate lab developments into clinical practice.
At the end of the video, the scientists offer viewers an important practical tip: organ-on-a-chip technologies already have the power to change not only treatment methods but also the very face of future medicine—from slowing aging to growing artificial organs. To be ready for these changes, everyone in healthcare and biotechnology is advised to study new developments deeply, understand the boundaries between therapy and body modification, and critically assess the risks associated with personal data use and digital solutions.