Biomimetic tissue and organ models

Although animal models have led to significant advancements in understanding complex pathologies and discovering new therapies, they are expensive, time consuming and often misleading, especially regarding drug safety and efficacy. More reliable tissue models are sought to better mimic human physiology and recapitulate human diseases and toxicity pathways, whilst overcoming ethical issues. The development of biomimetic models of human tissues are essential for the systematic, repetitive and quantitative investigation of toxicity mechanisms, safety testing, disease progression, tissue regeneration/healing, pharmacological treatments and novel advanced therapies. These biomimetic models require the combination of innovative tissue engineering strategies, advanced material design, scaffold fabrication and culture systems (such as the use of dynamic flow) and non-invasive monitoring technologies combined with mathematical models which enable data extrapolation for risk estimation and prediction.

The aim of this research topic is to bring together expert contributions dealing with the different transdisciplinary aspects of in-vitro and in-silico model design and provide an overview of the most recent achievements. The research topic will principally collate contributions from the Advances in Cell and Tissue Culture meeting to be held in Pisa in June, but other relevant contributions are welcome.