Organ-on-a-chip technology uses microfabrication techniques to create miniature models of human organs such as the lung, heart or intestine on a chip-sized carrier. The microcarriers are loaded with living cells that have been grown on a microplatform and mimic the structure and function of a human organ.⁽¹⁾ However, organ-on-a-chip technology is not yet fully integrated into drug development processes and clinical practice. In order to achieve this, the devices must be reliable and effective, i.e. investigators must be able to rely on the data they generate to ensure the safety and efficacy of new drugs. With proven technological and biological relevance, standards can boost implementation and use in areas such as the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.⁽²⁾

The Joint Research Center (JRC) is working together with the European Electrotechnical Committee for Standardization (CENELEC) and the European Standardization Organization (CEN) ⁽³⁾ to implement the standardization of this technology. In this context, a roadmap with the most important recommendations for future standardization activities was developed.  The roadmap was published in July 2024 with five recommendations.⁽⁴⁾

For more Information:
European Commission (2025). Setting out a roadmap for standardisation of organ-on-chip Technology. 13.01.2025. https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/

⁽¹⁾ Molecular devices (2025). Organ-on-a-Chip. Online: https://de.moleculardevices.com/applications/3d-cell-models/organ-on-a-chip
⁽²⁾ CEN/CENELEC (2022). CEN and CENELEC Focus Group Organ-on-Chip (FGOoC). 04.01.2022. Online: https://www.cencenelec.eu/news-and-events/news/2022/brief-news/2022-04-01-focus-group-organ-on-chip/
⁽³⁾ CEN/CENELEC (2025). About CENELEC. online: https://standards.cencenelec.eu/dyn/www/f?p=CENELEC:5
⁽⁴⁾ CEN/CENELEC (2024). The Organ-on-Chip Roadmap has been published. 10.07.2024. https://www.cencenelec.eu/news-and-events/news/2024/brief-news/2024-07-10-organ-on-chip/