Geraldine Hamilton: Body parts on a chip

It's relatively easy to imagine a new medicine, a better cure for some disease. The hard part, though, is testing it, and that can delay promising new cures for years. In this well-explained talk, Geraldine Hamilton shows how her lab creates organs and body parts on a chip, simple structures with all the pieces essential to testing new medications -- even custom cures for one specific person. (Filmed at TEDxBoston)
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[@ja100o]

3:01 Cameraman: "just f**king hold that damn thing still for a moment!"

[@JohnLeePettimoreIII]

😃

[@niroopotsav]

xDDD

[@iliketrains0pwned]

"I have right here a human lung on a chip!!" *_frantically starts waving it back and fourth so the camera can't see it_*

[@brosephthomas3764]

3:00 Props to the camera operator for at least trying to catch a decent view of the chip even though failure was inevitable in this situation.

[@jacobduncan87]

It's been 5 yrs I wonder how much of this has been integrated like predicted.

[@paulvarn4712]

Good question now on Apr 8 2019. This is the latest science article I could find on Emulate: techweek.com/organs-on-chip-emulate-boston-startup/

[@jacobduncan87]

@@paulvarn4712 thanks pretty interesting article.

[@estuardochoc]

This month it arrived to the international space station!

[@OphiuchiChannel]

Its fascinating... I cant say I understand 100% how the valves works but I wish I knew more.

[@aracaribiosciences6124]

We've been implementing this for a while now.

[@SIMKINETICS]

I've worked as an engineer/scientist in the bio-medical industry for decades. This technology of a cheap, mass-produced lab-on-a-chip is widespread throughout the industry because it's a versatile means of increasing efficiencies in testing. Microfluidic chemistries & bioassays can be deposited, dried & activated later with fluid injection at the time of testing. This can eliminate a complex protocol for preparing reagents for every test at the urgency of time-sensitive processes; this saves a lot of lab work & time. Channels encased in clear plastic can be used to create circuits that are isolated from contamination, while allowing non-contact fluid circuit actions urged on with localized heat, capillary action, magnetic sturrers & gates, & sound waves that do not foul the circuit. This also allows microscopy to be used in pre-calibrated instruments fitted to accept these chips. This is a new way of thinking that has many uses that imaginative engineers & scientists can exploit, though it's decades old!

[@mustafamahmoud4317]

hi SIMKINETICS your comment it very interested for me and I need your help about this field for applying these ideas my email is muattia@gmail I hope you send me you contact

[@SIMKINETICS]

mustafa mahmoud My e-mail is screwed up. Please communicate through my KZbin channel comments.

[@Creationsofmyown]

The Thought Emporium just uploaded a video about how basically anyone with the know-how can make a microfluidic chip with ShrinkyDinks for pennies on the dollar...

[@Cynthia_Cantrell]

I took a bunch of these organs-on-a-chip, added some motors, a Raspberry Pi 3B+ for a brain, and made a miniature cyborg boy in my basement. I named him Chip.

[@IMBIue]

Pretty impressive. I can't wait to see what the future holds in medicine. Good luck towards the team working on this :D

[@fjoa123]

for me its pretty hard to believe that things like these are happening just at the same time as people fighting and killing because of religion.

[@Memera94]

s0be2266 i think you are special

[@stuart2964]

Actually they are not fighting because of religions, religions are spiritual endeavours, what creates war and death from religion / resources is their EGO creating a false reality that only their way is correct, their God is bigger and better and the only God, to heal the planet most effectively we need to learn that WE are not always right from our world perspective and accept others ways and beliefs even when they disagree with our own.

[@fjoa123]

s0be2266 would you please bother on giving at least one argument?

[@zvolencan1]

You got it all wrong. People fight over natural resources and power and cover it with religion differences (and spreading of "democracy").

[@s0be2266]

c7b0rg I was thinking more along the lines of what zvolencan1 had posted. But if it makes you feel any better ur special too.

[@nebuchadnezzar47]

I would really love to see an update on this technology, so see how far this technology is today, 7years later

[@Aeig]

What a great speaker

[@mysterygideonman]

This is bloody brilliant! It might be that i'm a little late but this was a real eye opener for me. The amount of possibilities of this technology is mindblowing. I knew that this kind of technology did exist but I never could have imagined that it would be this elegant and beautiful. Complicated yet simple.

[@BosonCollider]

Her graph at the beginning of the presentation on drugs follows the inflation curve for the US dollar exactly...

[@567BTHTY]

haha great comment, always good to be critical

[@DarkFox2232]

Well inflation may be changing similarly to that graph, but it does not mean same amount of new medicines got out for same percentage of GDP. US inflation from 1980 to 2010 is around 180% (lets say 2x), but since graph has exponential scale it shows that number of new drugs per 1B$ went in years 1980 - 2010 from 4 to 0.6. US GDP got in 1980 to 2010 from 2.8 to 15 trillions $. What does it mean? (Drugs * inflation / GDP 1980 to 2010 ratios) 0.15 * 2 / 5.3 = 0.056. Shes very right that effectiveness goes down, and in given time here it is by factor of 17.

[@BosonCollider]

Fox2232 Pretty sure you shouldn't be dividing by 5.3 there, since that's the 2010 to 1980 gdp ratio, not the other way around. Yield of new medicines for a given percentage of GDP has increased, not decreased.

[@brosephthomas3764]

Just imagine the personalized medication we'll have in the future thanks to this tech! No more extensive lists of side effects for the drugs people rely on.

[@lulus704]

has anything happened with this in the last 9 years or can you do a follow up talk to this

[@timirbaranmaiti4045]

Amazing concepts to know through a great presentation .it must bring revolution in medical treatments .

[@indianstunts]

Interesting idea! But it seems that they are creating physical stress environs, I am curious, what about creating the chemical environment like ph levels, salt and juice levels which help in functioning and immune reactions? What about the neurological connections, the interconnections of nearby organs, bones, tissues etc which effect the response of a particular organ? What about creating any preconditions or deficiencies, diseases which affect bodily responses? If these can be done it will be revolutionary. Keep going! My best wishes.

[@codyvanloan6159]

Very exciting concepts for the health industry and many others. I can't wait to see how this could possibly revolutionize the treatment of diseases.

[@nuvamusic]

I believe this works for the early phases of a drug research, by eliminating at once the prototype drugs that don't pass this initial safety test. Further clinical trials will still be needed for those that pass. A human body as a whole is way more complex than what has been depicted in these examples. So many possible multi-organ or multi-systemic interactions, too many variables involved. In vitro still from in vivo.

[@TanTan-ch3vq]

Agree

[@joalexsg9741]

Just amazing! Thank you so much for one more educational TED video-lecture!

[@nunyabiznez8120]

Problem is, that the test the drug on the whole body. Drugs affect the entire machine, not just 1 part. Humans are not cars or computers. Because of how they interact and how a drug can concentrate in one location more than another, this will not be able to give the full picture. Its great if it stops heart disease, but its not any good if it concentrates and kills off your liver...

[@cineck]

This is pure SF happening right now. Amazing.

[@Mithon81]

Consider how production of the transistor has evolved. How large it was in the beginning, and how small it is today (and getting smaller). If we see anything like that development for a technology such as this, imagine the statistical plausability you could get for medical trials at an insanely low cost. Truly exciting...

[@dewaldjohan]

i love seeing 05:40 its incredible! visual presentation of whats happening inside our bodies

[@dnadirective]

9 years later...how did this chip pan out? Is it industry standard now or ultimately did not commercialize well?

[@deliciousbutter6077]

Wow this so genus and simple! I mean it's probably is very complicated to figure out and engineer but it's so much more simpler than so many other things

[@coolineho]

We need to fight for the feelings of these chips, it's our duty.

[@ClemonsKunkel]

Wowing. Love this Video. TED talks really keeps you up-to-date once but changing in the world. Awesome ideas. It will save a bunch of lives in the near future.

[@dominic508]

This is reeeaaally cool, but I think bio-printed organs have more potential. As she said herself in the beginning, we have to get the closest possible to the actual environment of the human body.

[@HamsterPants522]

I agree. Though it's good that this option now exists. It seems like it would be more affordable than bio-printing, so maybe it could be more useful in poorer countries? If it's able to be, then that is still very good news.

[@MrFlexNC]

Yes but it is economical not possible. This is a faster, cheaper and more feasible way. Keep it simple and stupid ;)

[@joshlee1090]

I don't see how bio-printing is at odds with this technology. It seems they would work cooperatively.

[@slicedtoad]

HamsterPants522 It's a research tool... Since when is pharmaceutical research done in poor countries?

[@HamsterPants522]

slicedtoad Well I said poorer, not necessarily poor.

[@LangeE612]

This blew me away. Awesome!!

[@Poollz]

wow wow wow! simply amazing what they are doing

[@HelenaMisfit]

This absolutely blew my mind when I heard this. Could you imagine how this would revolutionize the way we study cells. Amazing!!

[@evgeniisharaborin8071]

I am amazed totally!

[@turalmustafayev3757]

nice explanation!

[@digiarthur]

This chip would revolutionize human research as we can see the exact respond to human bodies rather than animal testing

[@VisualArt3D]

Amazing technology!!! But there is something about it that just doesn't feel right... I think we have to be very careful what we make of this technology

[@angynan3217]

Me parece muy interesante, y sería posible diseñar el uso racional del medicamento en los diferentes pacientes

[@fatmaelsayed8933]

soooo informative

[@MEGABLAMP]

they didn't say anything about "brain on a chip". Too transhumanist or too impractical? I would think getting the brain on the chip would be the most important one as many of the typically perscribed drugs all usually have to deal with crossing the blood brain barrier.

[@smitalmehta7735]

its going to save lots of time n energy and of course if it will be used wisely, its gonna save lots of lives also.. great great great.... Hates off..

[@HugoOliveirapt]

Thanks you

[@bnewton81]

When I eat while naked I sometimes get my body parts on my chips.

[@mussoorie111]

There are a tonne of biochemical transmitters around that we don't even know exist. How Wil be able to explain the cause for the effect they see on these isolated chip environments??.

[@roi_sorab]

Facinating! Medical system is going to be something else in next 10 years.

[@石井陽介-c7u]

I think this developed technology itself is very wonderful. However, based on the speaker's presentation, could it be that, prior to this technology, pharmaceutical companies had not fully clarified the effects of expected medicinal ingredients on the human body in the first place? Does it mean that detailed basic research on the possible negative effects of pharmacological ingredients on the human body as a whole and detailed clinical research on the negative symptoms observed as a result of these effects are hardly being conducted?

[@percevalmahpouyas9933]

I think they are thinking about the consequences that could have if it ever goes wrong. It can make a scandal if we talk about volunteers who end up being endangered by those trials. We're still talking about Big Pharma. Their goal, as for every company, is to make money, nowadays more than ever. And a good way to "make" money is to save as much as possible, starting by the clinical trials and the test subjects. A mouse, rat, or rabbit is infinitely less expensive in case of failure than a human subject. Avoiding expensive lawsuits is also part of the process.

[@brunoperez1211]

Pero muy bien

[@FadiHamoud1980]

Very ingenious! I love it.

[@HongrenChen]

This is so amazing omg

[@JeffvonJV]

WE CAN TEST NOW GMO FOODS EFFECTS ON US WITH THESE CHIPS...BRILLIANT INVENTION....

[@KemaTheAtheist]

Take your ignorant propaganda somewhere else.

[@tjdoss]

Astonishing.

[@nozrep]

simply amazing

[@Magykman]

I hope this is what the medical industry needs to develop new medicines and vaccines.

[@faaip0de0oaid]

9 years ago? i wonder what has been devoleped with this

[@정건-p3l]

So.. does anyone know how this study is going right now during Covid-19?

[@tonyotag]

how about synthetic photosynthesis with these chips?

[@lucstockdale]

This is amazing.

[@nickm2137]

This technology is amazing and I can't wait to see this being used. I would like to see this technology combined with 3D printing, the possibilities are endless.

[@shrunkensimon]

Interesting stuff. The chips are still isolated islands of functionality though so you may not be able to recreate the conditions that only a whole body could produce.

[@Jonarrthan]

I think the point is it is it is better than what is availible now

[@neurelfeilon8569]

The idea is valid. With development the probability of a correct prediction will rise significantly. And short of growing a clone it will probably be the best method we will ever devise. It no doubt is already [in this early development stage] better than all other methods we have combined.

[@slicedtoad]

Researchers would understand this. It doesn't replace all other tests, it's just a useful tool to add to the pharmaceutical chemist's collection. Being able to see exactly what happens in a micro system where all the variables are visible and controllable is very useful.

[@shrunkensimon]

Jonarrthan Yeh for sure, don't doubt this is a better way of doing things, just saying that it probably won't ever be able to recreate the 'whole body' situation that comes from the sum of all the parts.

[@xxhellspawnedxx]

Neurel Feilon Growing a clone would still mean you had to pass all the stages of testing up to human trials - The clone would be every bit as sentient a being as the original its genetic material was taken from.

[@thomasgirolamo8952]

Where is this now?!?! By the way I have your niece Summer in my design and modeling class :)

[@user-yw8sr3uj1w]

This is awesome!

[@TooIrishProud]

Impressive, exciting, and potentially revolutionary!

[@Paulus_Brent]

I'm skeptic that a tiny chip can simualte the much more complex biological environment of a cell in the body.

[@kpacuBua]

do not underestimate the tiny chips' power my friend

[@Paulus_Brent]

***** To simulate the human's body environment a cell is subjected to is not a matter of space. It is something too complicate that a tiny (or big) circuit can simulate. I don't think we really know how it works, and it will not be done by just surrounding a cell with other cells.

[@xxhellspawnedxx]

Free Mind I don't think that you, Joe Schmoe, have any clue what you're talking about, unlike, uhm... Those who have a genuine education in the field and years of experience to boot. You argue like a born-again idiot who looks at the world, can't comprehend it, and exclaims "GOD DUNNIT!"

[@KemaTheAtheist]

Free Mind You don't know the first thing about signalling pathways or concentration gradients, huh?

[@mshmbo]

Hot topic with very cold audience !!

I think this is all amazing, but I can't imagine how are they going to get for example cells from samebody's heart, or liver without an operation. Do you guys, have any idea?

[@KemaTheAtheist]

Right now, it's called a biopsy, and they are fairly non-invasive thanks to laparoscopic surgery. Once induced stem-cells are improved, that's how it will be done.

[@ltsgobrando]

This is really bugging me, does anyone what her accent is? It sounds like it's a mix of French and British but I'm not confident... can anyone place it?

[@LillyJem]

She sure says beautiful a lot!

[@brosephthomas3764]

I would too. This tech is amazing!

[@turalmustafayev3757]

please show the reference!

[@Dem00000nN]

Very intresting!

[@BlackMenTakingOurCommunityBack]

Awesome video

[@michellew4634]

so interesting!

[@mscocokaka1]

It should be able to use in Lap

[@zefellowbud5970]

I want a doll that uses these chip and we essentially have a homunculus

[@theropes25]

Amazing!

[@maynorarturovidesvasquez]

Amazing!!! :)

[@enduraman1]

That's awesome medical technology to personalized medicine.

[@MathieuHautefeuille]

Interesting talk from Geraldine Hamilton about what can be made on a chip. Further than a Lab on a chip, now we're talking organs on a chip. This could help designing and testing new drugs but it could also be useful for ex-vivo cell culturing where cells could behave more like how they do behave in the body. Structuring the chip walls to mimick the natural environment of the cell is indeed important to ensure their culturing. And being able to feed the cell with microfluidics is also a key factor that this kind of chips permits. We'll see how this technology evolves and progresses...

[@doloresmanrique9183]

Increible

[@niveoserenity5862]

The future is amazing.

[@TunnelPlaya]

Brain. Put a brain on a chip. Find a way to store and recall data.

[@CarmeloUrena94]

THIS IS AWESOME!!!!

[@spodeian]

Please don't let yourself get bought out and this end up discontinued

[@AnalAvenger]

"Ghost in the Shell" type future anyone? Yes. That's the answer. Its no longer a question. Its only a mater of time before we begin building more complex "organs". Having them work in conjunction would, by then, be mere childs play.

[@PedroPampolim]

Great stuff

[@matrix011101]

wow

[@egidiocs]

fantastic

[@Mod_max-imus]

Will they be able to host cancer cells also if so this is awesome

[@ExperimentLife]

fantastic

[@fritzki1]

Where is Dr Hamilton from? Got a bet going with a friend regarding her accent, please help a brother out.

[@gyice]

It will be interesting what takes place once the technology reaches the field and the true innovation starts.

[@benp9793]

It's a dangerous assumption to think pharma companies exist to produce medicine.

[@LeonidasGGG]

You know what's the worse part of this Talk? I tought they already did this years ago.

[@riloenyosi]

Easier said than done. It's better to have it late than never

[@LiquidBlaze9000]

well, the concept is a few years old. and I think there was a "demo" about just this in another TED talk that I saw a while ago.

[@AcanLord]

i anticipate some "mark of the beast" bullshit from this.

[@pedrovida23]

Your one of reasons change is practically impossible. We can't move on in science because of your ridiculous delusions.

[@vroxxzz]

Rick volder *face palm. you're so eager to jump down the throats of religious people that your mind makes up religious statements on their behalf. I refuse to believe you are this slow - pls read the comment and try again

[@vroxxzz]

Rick volder I now see why you replied the way you did - you think the original commenter thinks the chip will be used as a 'mark of the beast' and was upset by this. I think he was trying to say you should expect to see 'mark of the beast' comments from people who buy that particular brand of snake oil, which presumably, he doesn't.

[@pedrovida23]

Vroxzz Roxz I make religious statements on their behalf? Please quote me when I stated anything religious. I admit though I jumped a little too quickly trying to ague without analyzing the comment but you lost me at "buying a brand of snake oil." I wasn't trying to argue about your faith, I was also quite religious at one rough time in my life. I look back & i'd hate to know somebody's questioning their life because of me, so I'm toning that down as much as possible.

[@vroxxzz]

Rick volder "Please quote me when I stated anything religious". I didn't say YOU stated anything. I said your mind was making those religious statements (i.e so you'd have something to respond to) because I thought the original comment made it clear the commenter was referring to other people. Re: my faith - I haven't got one that's I referred to people who buy into the whole 'mark of the beast' thing as buyers of a particular brand of snake oil.

[@terro28]

what about the reactions due to hormonal responds?

[@daeriousjames2220]

I believe there are always illegal human testing involved in this, not just animal or the "dish" testing of new drugs...

[@4Dustorm]

I'm proud to cal who ever made that a true engineer

[@VertigaDesignMEDIA]

If you were to represent the human on a circuit board this is how it will be done. Perhaps this is a glimpse into the cyborg human in 1000 years where our brains are suspended by machines and linked to other brains and we are housed in robot bodies. Perhaps we can live forever like this, as long as the brain is sustained. Imagine your body having 'multiple brains'. How else can you sustain the brain in a controlled and precise manner, Geraldine Hamilton presents us a glimpse of that today. The future of virtual reality, freeing the conciousness, freedom for the brain. I see a revolution where the brain itself asks for its independence from its body. The brain wants to detach and move onto something more permanent. I can side with the Nation Of Brain here, where the brain and conciousness is the top of all priorities. The brain deserves more.

[@aaron4820]

This creates a much more ethical way of testing biological weapons..... mind blown.

[@lactate]

there are already plenty of ways to kill. does it really matter if there is one or 2 more?

[@shafiqgalaxynote2]

And what media are you using... something like DMEM/RPMI... hardly physiological?

[@aerztegegentierversuche]

It is time to end animal experimentation and enter into animal-free and human-based / species-based research!

[@kutaysagdc6425]

I am also working with microfluidic channels. The fabrication process has a lot of parameters so it is very hard to fabricate a lot of channels.

[@wonderfulJJ]

impressive

[@cliffdannau]

this is amazing :o

[@nastjastamenkovic1745]

incredible functionality??