Researchers from IIT Bombay, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research’s National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (NIRRCH) in Parel, have pioneered the creation of an innovative device that mimics the human placenta. These advanced placenta-on-a-chip models offer tremendous promise in comprehending pregnancy-related challenges such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes.

IIT Bombay’s Prof. Abhijit Majumder, Department of Chemical Engineering, the NIRRCH’s Dr. Deepak Modi, and IITB’s Prof. Debjani Paul, senior faculty at the School of Biosciences and Bioengineering came together on this path-breaking research endeavour. Their groundbreaking work and innovative ideas have garnered extensive media attention, capturing the spotlight for their pioneering approach and potential to revolutionize our understanding of pregnancy-related complexities.

The technology of placenta-on-chip enables researchers and healthcare professionals to observe, assess, and detect potential pregnancy-related complications.

Professor Majumder and Prof. Paul’s expertise in microfluidic device creation and Dr. Modi’s placental understanding converged to develop a solution. The collaboration birthed distinct devices, tailored for diverse studies including embracing embryo implantation, placental barrier function, cell migration, and medication testing. These advanced placenta-on-a-chip models, created by a group of enthusiastic students Sourav, Anshul, Yash, Tushar, Afrah, and Shomdutta, offer tremendous promise in comprehending pregnancy-related challenges such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. Rigorous testing verified their placenta-like efficacy and is now poised for pharmaceutical exploration.

For more on this research, click on the following links:

Department Of Science & Technology (dst.gov.in) | Bunch of new Placenta in chip devices can help making pregnancies safe

The Times of India

The Hindu

The Economic Times

Medindia

The Health Master

IIT Bombay’s Prof. Majumder and Prof. Paul, and Dr. Modi are clearly more than just scientists, researchers, and educators – they are catalysts of change and architects of a brighter future. Their successful journey is a testament to the power of human ingenuity and collaboration, proving that exceptional minds can create an extraordinary impact on the world around us when they come together for a specific purpose.

We congratulate the three extraordinary researchers for their breakthroughs and wish them the very best for the future.