Developing a new medical drug is a monumental undertaking, consuming vast amounts of time and money through countless experiments and trials. According to Wadah, a lot of the cost comes from attempting to replicate real human conditions in which to test the drugs. The budding researcher experienced this first-hand while working on a breast cancer project, where he spent six months studying the parameters of human tissue growth. His findings relied heavily on observing the natural behavior of cells, something which is only possible through a perfect replica of the environment inside the human body. Scarred by the experience, he explored academic literature to see if he could find a new solution. Enter the Ductal Organoid-on-a-Chip! Based on growing organ chip technology, the Chip provides an environment in which cells can grow and reorganize into tissues as if they were in the human body, providing the perfect atmosphere to conduct drug testing massively, efficiently, and affordably.
Skills
Video
Waddah Malaeb, Lebanon - Full Pitch
A microchip to test medicaments without risking the life of volunteers! What are your thoughts about this invention from Waddah Malaeb?