Mice Don’t Menstruate: Reimagining Women’s Health Using Organ Chips with Dr. Donald Ingber

Innovate and Elevate

In this episode, Sharon is joined by Dr. Donald Ingber, Founding Director at Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University.

Dr. Ingber’s commitment to following his passion has led him to countless medical and technological breakthroughs, including organ-chip technology. These incredible chips recreate the structure and function of human organs. Drugs can be administered through organ-chips so that blood impact can be monitored. Once more widely adopted, organ-chip testing will be able to replace animal testing. As Dr. Ingber shares, the results will surpass those of animal testing.

The organ-chip technology already includes women’s health models and holds great promise to revolutionize this under-invested area. Because animals, namely mice, do not have menstrual cycles, their biological environments are already skewed to test any women’s health-related projects. Organ-chips are a great solution to close the data gap. Dr. Ingber shares two projects underway in partnership with the Gates Foundation: to create a cure for bacterial vaginosis and to create a non-hormonal contraceptive.

Dr. Ingber highlights the importance of nurturing the business side of scientific breakthroughs so that innovations can reach patients. Twenty percent of Harvard’s intellectual property comes out of the Wyss Institute, and both funding and mentorship play crucial roles in that success metric.

Episode Outline

(00:53) Meet Dr. Donald Inbger

(02:11) Where Art Meets Science: Inside The Brilliant Mind of Dr. Ingber

(07:08) What Is Organ-on-a-Chip Technology?

(13:17) Reimaging Women’s Health with Organ-Chips

(21:11) Think Outside The Box: Bringing Innovation to Life

Connect with Sharon

• Connect with Sharon on LinkedIn: Sharon Kedar
• Learn more about Innovate and Elevate innovateandelevatepodcast.com
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• Join the newsletter to receive the latest episodes in your inbox: Innovate and Elevate Newsletter

Connect with Dr. Ingber

• Follow The Wyss Institute on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Emulate, Inc.

Additional Resources

• The Wyss Institute
• The Wyss-Northpond Research And Innovation Alliance
• First rodent found with a human-like menstrual cycle
• The White House Initiative on Women's Health Research

This podcast is produced by the women at The Wave Editing.