Previous winners of the award include the Olympic torch from the 2012 London Games.
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Designed by Donald Ingber and Dan Dongeun Huh at Harvard University’s Wyss Institute, the Human Organs-on-Chips project comprises a series of chips that mimic real human organs, including a lung-on-a-chip, and gut-on-a-chip. A device that can respond to drugs in the same way as the human organ it imitates has the potential to revolutionize the methods by which we develop and test new medicines.
So far, the scientists have recreated the functions of 15 organs and plan to continue. Firstly, the designers hope to be able to replace drug and cosmetic testing on animals with the technology. “It could change clinical trials forever”, she added. In addition, a machine is being used to expand and contract the cell, the same force applied as when people breathe. The researchers can then monitor the behaviors of bacteria, drugs and human white blood cells through a microscope.
In Design Museum’s brief winning announcement, Gemma Curtin – Designs of the Year 2015 exhibition curator – said, ‘This winning design is a great example of how design is a collaborative practice embracing expertise and know how across disciplines. But this year’s victor looks bound for universal acclaim.
‘One of the most important things about the Design of the Year award is the chance that it gives the museum to explore new territory, ‘ says Deyan Sudjic, the Design Museum’s director.
The design that was nominated was for the lungs, but the developers said that they also have devices for kidney and liver. They identified a serious problem: how do we predict how human cells will behave.
“It’s really great to be recognized not just because of the science but also for the design. It’s very elegant and simple but mimics the key attributes of human organs”. “Initially where this system can be of benefit is where it can help refine and reduce the number of animal studies”. Under the mysterious name, “Human-Body-on-Chips”, the project has led to the creation of the first silicon chip that presents the same physiological functions as the human lung. The revolutionary chips are the result of around seven years of research.
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