NSERC Prizes
John C. Polanyi Award

Milica Radisic

Milica Radisic, a professor in biomedical engineering and Canada Research Chair in Organ-on-a-Chip Engineering at the University of Toronto, is pioneering groundbreaking advances in organ-on-a-chip technology. Her research aims to revolutionize drug testing and tissue engineering by creating lifelike human tissues outside the body.

Radisic's innovative approach leverages microfabrication techniques to construct 3D tissues from human cells, mimicking the complex environments of organs. Key to her work are biodegradable elastomers and novel fabrication methods, which allow precise control over tissue properties such as permeability and contractility. This has led to the development of the AngioChip, a platform featuring synthetic vasculature that mimics natural blood vessels. These advancements enable more accurate testing of drug efficacy and safety, avoiding the pitfalls of traditional animal models.

Radisic has also made significant contributions to cardiac tissue engineering, where she created new methods for maturing human heart cells derived from stem cells. This achievement has set a new standard in the field.

In the future, Radisic's research promises to enhance personalized medicine and streamline pharmaceutical development, offering safer and more reliable testing platforms for new therapies.

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