Organ-on-Chip: Next Frontiers in Predictive Drug Development
Organ-on-chip (OoC) technologies are reshaping how we model human biology for drug development offering physiologically relevant platforms that go beyond traditional cell cultures and animal models. This session brings together two experts to explore OoC applications across multiple tissues and ADME assessment, with a practical lens on translational utility.
What This Session Covers?
TALK 01
Organ-on-Chip Platforms for Human-Relevant Modelling of Skin, Lung & Retinal Tissue for Predictive Drug Development
Dr. Prajakta Dandekar Jain | UGC Faculty & M.Tech Coordinator, ICT Mumbai
- Microfluidic platforms for skin, lung & retinal tissue using soft lithography & 3D printing
- Skin-on-chip: 3D co-culture under dynamic perfusion and air-liquid interface conditions
- Lung-on-chip: immune response to Influenza A and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein
- Retina-on-chip: modelling dry age-related macular degeneration features
- Scalable human-relevant frameworks for predictive drug screening
TALK 02
Gut-on-a-Chip: A Translational Platform for Intestinal ADME and Drug Discovery
Mr. Ramana Jinugu | Principal Scientist, DMPK · Syngene Scientific Solutions Ltd.
- Replicating intestinal physiology with microfluidics, flow & peristalsis-like motion
- Realistic ADME assessment: permeability, transporters (P-gp, BCRP) & metabolism (CYP3A4)
- Microbiome integration for drug–microbe interaction studies
- Improved translational predictability over Caco-2, reducing reliance on animal models
Key Speakers
Dr. Prajakta Dandekar Jain
~20 years in NAMs, microfluidics, 3D bioprinting & tissue engineering. 135+ international publications, 2 books, multiple design & process patents. First RESPIRE ERS–Marie Curie long-term fellow from her department (Helmholtz Institute, Saarland, Germany). BRSI Woman Scientist 2025 | OPPI Women Scientist 2024 | Dr. Dipti M. Kapoor Endowment Award 2024 | Swami Vivekanand Yuva Puraskar 2023 | INSA Woman Associate.
Mr. Ramana Jinugu
17 years of hands-on research experience in pre-clinical ADME & DMPK. Leads cell culture, Phys-chem, and transporter-based studies at Syngene, serving as program leader and core team member on multiple projects. Currently pursuing Ph.D. at Vignan University, focused on Pharmacokinetics & Efficacy for Colon activity (Ulcerative Colitis).
Moderator
Dr. Amol Raje
Amol brings 24+ years of DMPK experience across 30+ discovery targets and multiple therapeutic areas. He has worked on diverse modalities including small molecules, biologics, PROTACs, ADCs, and peptides. He contributed to two NCEs reaching Indian market and one NCEs in the Phase 3 clinical trials and five clinical candidate nominations. Amol has 20+ publications and holds a PhD degree in Pharmacokinetics.
Key Takeaways
- Multi-tissue OoC: Skin, lung & retinal platforms for barrier function & disease modelling
- Gut-chip ADME: Intestinal permeability, transporters & microbiome studies.
- Beyond animal models: NAMs improving predictive confidence in preclinical testing.
