Research in this field is challenging because the pathophysiology of necrotizing enterocolitis is complex, and this complexity is not reflected in many commonly used in vitro models. Studies using human samples are often limited by small sample volumes and the rarity of samples obtained at the time of intestinal surgery. Our goal is to determine the mechanisms that lead to the development of NEC in preterm infants and to identify new treatment strategies.
The NEC-on-a-Chip system improves upon previous models by more closely reflecting the physiology of the neonatal intestine. In this model, we combine patient-derived intestinal organoids, endothelial cells, and the microbiome from a neonate who had severe NEC onto the microfluidic chip.
