The NMI HepaChip is a kind of miniature liver that can be used to test substances for their liver toxicity. A NMI team and collaboration partners have decisively expanded the cellular test principle in two complementary joint projects and developed an organ-like miniature test system using micro-system technology. The main liver cell types are arranged in microscopic channels in an organ-like environment, in multiple units on a 10 cm² surface. Miniaturisation and parallel assembly allow multiple simultaneous testing.

According to an NMI press release, the technology has now matured to the point that the HepaChip can be placed on the market. The NMI team led by Dr. Julia Simon and Werner Schütte will receive funding from the EXIST Transfer of Research programme of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.

From April 2013 on, a team of scientists, engineers and economists will receive support for one and a half years for the development of a HepaChip prototype. As soon as the prototype can be reproduced in larger quantities, it will be ready for market entry. At the end of the project period an NMI spin-off company will be founded to market the HepaChip and use the technology for the development of further products.

For more information:
http://www.nmi.de/ (press release in German)
http://www.nmi.de/projects/projectdetail/?id=65