🟥 Omics-guided Target Validation Microenvironment Chip

Omics-guided target validation microenvironment chip is an advanced platform that integrates multiple omics data (e.g., genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) into the design and construction of physiologically relevant disease microenvironments on-chip. This approach enables researchers to validate the functionality of therapeutic targets in real time in a biological context relevant to humans, thereby bridging the gap between molecular discovery and translational applications.

The process begins with deep profiling of patient samples or disease models to identify dysregulated genes, signaling pathways, cell states, or immune checkpoints that may serve as candidate drug targets. These omics-derived signatures are then used to design microenvironment chips that replicate key features of the disease microenvironment, such as immune-tumor interactions, stromal-epithelial crosstalk, hypoxia, extracellular matrix composition, or inflammatory gradients.

This chip-based validation approach is particularly useful for confirming the functional relevance of omics-discovered targets that may be difficult to determine based on expression data alone. It can also be used to screen combination therapies and reveal resistance mechanisms in a patient-specific manner when integrated with autologous cells.

In summary, omics-guided microenvironment chips are a new generation of tools that transform complex data into actionable biology, supporting drug development, immunotherapy design, and personalized treatment strategies with faster speed and higher precision.

Reference

[1] Daniela Gaebler et al., Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 2025 (doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1462293)