A recent news article published by Columbia University highlighted an exciting advancement in TMJ research: “Columbia Researcher Awarded NIH Grant to Advance TMJ ‘Joint-on-a-Chip.’” Chang Lee, PhD, associate professor of craniofacial engineering at Columbia University’s College of Dental Medicine, has received a $3.8 million, five-year grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) to develop the first-ever “TMJ-on-a-chip.”
What Is an “Organ-on-a-Chip”?
An organ-on-a-chip is a miniature human body part built using living human cells and tiny channels that allow fluids to move through it, much like blood flows in the body. Scientists use these chips to mimic how an organ works, which helps them study disease and test treatments without needing to rely only on animal models or invasive procedures.
Why This Matters for TMJ Patients?
- The TMJ-on-a-chip will enable researchers to see how jaw disorders begin and progress.
- Therapies can be tried on the chip before moving into experimental animal and clinical studies, lowering risks for patients.
- Because the model can be made from a patient’s own cells, it could one day help doctors design treatments tailored to individual needs.
Hope for new therapies: The chip expands the field, allowing therapies to be tested and applied at various stages of disease.