Accelerating Medical Countermeasure Development through Microphysiological Systems
By Loza Taye | December 5th, 2024
The Department of Defense (DoD) must address growing chemical and biological threats that demand rapid, accurate medical countermeasure (MCM) assessments. Traditional animal models are often too slow, inefficient, and lack human relevance, while clinical trials are impractical for such evolving challenges. Microphysiological systems (MPS) provide a critical path forward. These cutting-edge technologies can offer timely, human-relevant insights needed for life-saving decisions. In August 2024, a Joint Science and Technology Office (JSTO) workshop underscored the importance of advancing these systems by supporting use of MPS in toxicity and medical countermeasure testing. This workshop highlighted upcoming technologies and critical areas of improvement such as system integration, immune components, standardization, and gaining FDA approval. Taking into consideration these limitations — and recognizing the potential of MPS — the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s (DTRA) invested in MPS. These previous efforts with MPS have shown promise. Continued investment in this area is crucial to enhancing rapid-response capabilities, improving testing accuracy, and addressing gaps in traditional research methodologies.
One of the primary challenges facing the DoD is the need for rapid action in response to emerging biological and chemical threats. Advances in biotechnology and chemistry have made harmful agents easier to develop, while global interconnectedness accelerates their spread. The sheer volume and unpredictability of these threats demand scalable, adaptable solutions. These threats can appear with little or no warning, requiring rapid development of countermeasures, including vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostic tools. Even with advanced technologies, the typical process for developing and testing a new drug or vaccine can take years. A 100-day development timeline is considered a goal for rapid vaccine development following the identification of the next pandemic pathogen.
Animal models are traditionally the gold standard in biomedical research, but they have several limitations. Firstly, the low throughput of animal models means that only a limited number of compounds or therapeutic interventions can be tested at a time. This limitation significantly delays the development of countermeasures, which require greater testing throughput when facing a new or evolving biological threat. The cost and time it takes to run animal tests also delay the MCM development process. Finally, they are not always able to effectively predict human response. Human clinical trials most often cannot always be ethically conducted to assess countermeasures. MPS offer a potential solution to this problem. By simulating human tissue on a miniature scale, they can provide more accurate representations of human biological systems and enable researchers to test MCMs to obtain information that is more relevant to human responses. MPS also has the potential to speed up this process significantly, providing a platform for faster disease modeling and drug screening. MPS are an adaptable platform for forecasting diseases and assessing emerging threats in real-time, enabling rapid, precise responses to evolving risks. This makes them a potential tool for improving the overall accuracy of threat characterization, leading to more effective and timely responses. Other key advantages of MPS are its high throughput capabilities and potential to reduce costs in the long term. This cost-effectiveness could help the DoD overcome financial constraints and improve its ability to respond to emerging biological threats.
The DoD should continue to invest in developing and deploying MPS as a solution to the growing challenges of biological and chemical threats. MPS offer an ethical, efficient, timely, and scientifically valid approach to understanding human responses to harmful agents. The progress made thus far in MPS technologies, as discussed in a recent JSTO workshop, illustrates the significant strides made and the ongoing work required to enhance these systems. By addressing key challenges like reproducibility, standardization, and system integration, the DoD can ensure that MPS remain a vital tool in developing medical countermeasures and preparedness for future threats. Ultimately, these advancements will not only improve the DoD's ability to protect the nation but could also pave the way for broader applications in medical science and public health.
The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Johns Hopkins University or Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
