GastroScreen is a groundbreaking “mini-gut” grown from human stem cells that replicates the complex structure and function of the human intestine. Developed by Ph.D. students at the University of Michigan, it is designed to transform drug testing by providing a more accurate platform for evaluating drug compounds before human clinical trials.
Currently, drug candidates undergo rigorous preclinical testing to ensure safety and efficacy before being tested in humans. Unlike existing models, which rely on flat cell layers or animal testing, GastroScreen features functional human neurons, blood vessels, and muscle organized in 3D, closely mimicking how the human intestine works and responds to drugs.
This allows scientists to better predict how drug candidates will perform in humans, accelerating drug discovery, reducing costly trial failures, and identifying safer, more effective treatments for patients.