In the Spotlight: chiron brings human joints and tumours to the chip for animal-free research

The power of mechanical mimicry: from joints to oncology

chiron (www.chrn.co) is a specialist in Organ-on-Chip (OoC) technology. Their unique expertise lies in applying mechanical forces to human cells and creating high-value applications with 3D cell culture. This is not only crucial for research into conditions such as osteoarthritis – where joints are constantly under physical pressure – but also in oncology. Particularly in solid tumours, chiron’s µMass™ is specifically designed to recreate more human-like pathology, to better help researchers develop novel therapies. By more accurately mimicking human biology, and physiology, in vitro, chiron enables human-relevant data that previously could only be obtained through animal testing, or other in-vitro applications.

µMass™ is one of the foundational, proprietary platforms that chiron utilizes to develop applications that helps turn complex biological questions into clearer, decision-ready insight for drug development. It enables researchers to recreate consistent, human-relevant biology in vitro, creating a reliable foundation for advanced disease modeling and therapy testing.

Collaboration within Biomed03: Smart sensors

Within the NXTGEN Hightech Biomed 03 project, chiron is taking the next step in the evolution of the µMass™. Together with its consortium partners, the plate will be redesigned to integrate advanced biosensors.

By integrating these biosensors, researchers can monitor key biological parameters from within µMass™, such as:

·       pH levels (acidity)

·       Oxygen levels

·       Lactate levels

This data output is essential for understanding cell behaviour during experiments. The first major showcase of this technology focuses on solid breast-cancer tumours. By directly validating the new sensor technology with breast cancer cells, chiron, along with the NXTGEN consortium, is creating a system that is both technically superior and biologically relevant.

The power of the Biomed03 consortium

chiron’s technology accelerates the path to personalised treatments. The system is fully compatible with existing laboratory automation: pharmaceutical companies can implement this innovation directly into their workflow or outsource the work to chiron as a strategic ally in their drug-development process. This leads to more actionable data, for better decision making, leaner, faster clinical trials, and more targeted, essential-only use of animals during preclinical trials.

"No single company is strong enough to tackle cancer alone. As part of NXTGEN Hightech, we join forces to take our µMass™ platform one step further—integrating measurements that will make µMass™ an even more advanced decision-intelligence tool, enabling the development of better therapies for solid tumours in the future. Together, we can accelerate innovation for patients.” – Carlo Alberto Paggi, PhD CXO & Co-founder