Many drugs, or their antecedents, were discovered through observation of their effects on
normal or disease physiology. For the past generation, this phenotypic drug discovery …

The RNA interference (RNAi) pathway regulates mRNA stability and translation in nearly all
human cells. Small double-stranded RNA molecules can efficiently trigger RNAi silencing of …

Recent studies have demonstrated an array of stem cell–derived, self-organizing miniature
organs, termed organoids, that replicate the key structural and functional characteristics of …

Building tissues from scratch to explore entirely new cell configurations could revolutionize
fundamental understanding in biology. Bioprinting is an emerging technology to do this …

Cellular models are needed to study human development and disease in vitro, and to
screen drugs for toxicity and efficacy. Current approaches are limited in the engineering of …

The cell microenvironment has emerged as a key determinant of cell behavior and function
in development, physiology, and pathophysiology. The extracellular matrix (ECM) within the …

Cancer is a complex disease in which both genetic defects and microenvironmental
components contribute to the development, progression, and metastasization of disease …

Fibrin gel has been widely used for engineering various types of tissues due to its
biocompatible nature, biodegradability, and tunable mechanical and nanofibrous structural …

Although animal experiments are indispensable for preclinical screening in the drug
discovery process, various issues such as ethical considerations and species differences …

An in vitro model of the human kidney glomerulus—the major site of blood filtration—could
facilitate drug discovery and illuminate kidney-disease mechanisms. Microfluidic organ-on-a …