Eindhoven University's 'Cancer-on-a-Chip' Breakthrough in Tumor Research
Eindhoven, Thursday, 20 March 2025.
Mohammad Jouybar’s ‘cancer-on-a-chip’ simulates tumor environments, offering new insights into cancer metastasis and treatment, potentially revolutionizing ethical research alternatives to animal testing.
Revolutionary Approach to Cancer Research
In a significant advancement for medical research, biomedical engineer Mohammad Jouybar at Eindhoven University of Technology has developed innovative cancer-on-a-chip technology that promises to transform our understanding of cancer progression [1]. The technology, which has been in development for approximately fifteen years, offers a more ethical and cost-effective alternative to traditional animal testing methods for disease modeling and therapeutic testing [1].
Understanding Cancer Metastasis
The research specifically focuses on studying the metastatic phase of cancer, which Jouybar’s work reveals as a complex cascading process rather than a single event [1]. The team has successfully created detailed models incorporating various components including breast ducts, surrounding tissue, and blood vessels, utilizing advanced techniques such as femtosecond laser and 3D sugar printing [1]. In collaboration with Amsterdam UMC, the research has expanded to include lymphatic vessels, enabling comprehensive study of cancer cell movement through the lymphatic system [1].
Validation and Future Applications
The significance of this research was formally recognized when Jouybar defended his PhD thesis titled ‘Cancer-on-Chip Technologies: Models of Tumor Microenvironments (TME), Metastasis, and Therapeutic Testing’ on February 7, 2025, at Eindhoven University of Technology [3]. This technology holds particular promise for personalized medicine and the development of new cancer treatments [1], aligning with broader trends in medical technology innovation across Europe [4].