The RVC furthers development and use of organ-on-a-chip technology through partnership with Emulate
The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Emulate, Inc. to build on prior RVC research into Organ-on-a-Chip (Ooc) technology and support the development of animal species-specific Organ-Chip models.
In recent years, microfluidic technologies have become increasingly important in the health sciences. This is in part, due to enhanced government restrictions on animal testing in preclinical safety studies but also because of greater awareness that existing research methods must be enhanced or evolve in order to remain fit-for-purpose. Among them, OoC platforms, also known as microphysiological systems, offer a new methodology which enables the continuous culture of living cells within dynamic, biomimetic environments.
By recreating physiologically relevant 3D microenvironments outside the body, both single- and multi-organ OoCs enable cell to cell interactions and tissue-like behaviour on a miniature scale and improve understandings of initial interactions of pathogens with the host. They therefore, offer promising tools for developing new intervention strategies, by testing the right target in the right tissue of the main target species.
While these technologies are already used in some human disease research, OoCs are only starting to be applied in veterinary medicine and have the potential to significantly advance a personalised medicine approach for companion animals and disease prevention and vaccine development for farm animals, as examples. Similarly, this research and development of these technologies can further inform similar approaches in human medicine in a true OneHealth approach.
Through this collaboration, Emulate will provide technical expertise and support to enable RVC scientists to design and establish Organ-Chip models of veterinary species. Additionally, these models will enable the RVC to pioneer the use of animal Organ-Chips in research and widen access to this technology for other academic and industry groups interested in applying these advanced in vitro systems to animal health challenges.
Dr Dirk Werling, Professor of Molecular Immunology at the RVC, and Director of the Centre for Vaccinology and Regenerative Medicine, said:
“OoC, and other 3D tissue explant systems, will provide veterinary scientists with new tools to develop personalist medicine approaches for companion animals and new treatment strategies for farmed animals. More importantly, it will allow us to perform the necessary experiments from the beginning within the target species, ultimately reducing the number of animals needed. Thus, we are fully following the 3Rs.”
Dr Stephan Schuell, Director of Sales EMEA, Australia and New Zealand, and Dr Asli Akadil, Senior Scientific Liaison, both at Emulate, said:
“We are proud to support the Royal Veterinary College as they establish the first veterinary-focused Organ-Chip service offering. Their work will open new avenues for applying OoC technology to animal health and broaden its impact in both veterinary and human medicine.”
Notes to Editors
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About the RVC
- The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is the UK's largest and longest established independent veterinary school and is a Member Institution of the University of London.
- It is one of the few veterinary schools in the world that hold accreditations from the RCVS in the UK (with associated recognition from the AVBC for Australasia, the VCI for Ireland and the SAVC for South Africa), the EAEVE in the EU, and AVMA (probationary) in the USA and Canada.
- The RVC is ranked as the top veterinary school in the world in the QS World University Rankings by subject, 2025.
- The RVC offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in veterinary medicine, veterinary nursing and biological sciences.
- The RVC is a research-led institution, with 88% of its research rated as internationally excellent or world class in the Research Excellence Framework 2021.
- The RVC provides animal owners and the veterinary profession with access to expert veterinary care and advice through its teaching hospitals and first opinion practices in London and Hertfordshire.
