OrganoMic from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Advances Organ-on-Chip Models for Smarter Drug Discovery
What if the biggest bottleneck in drug discovery is not the lack of new drugs, but the way we test them?
Despite decades of scientific progress, nearly 90% of drug candidates fail during clinical trials. A major reason is the limited ability of conventional preclinical models to predict human responses. Traditional 2D cell cultures oversimplify biology, while animal models often fail to capture human-specific physiology. This disconnect has fuelled a global push toward human-relevant testing systems, reinforced by recent regulatory shifts such as the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, which allows alternatives to animal testing for drug approval, and evolving frameworks from the European Medicines Agency promoting New Approach Methodologies (NAMs).
Born out of research at the M-Lab, IIT Bombay, OrganoMic operates at the intersection of microfluidics, mechanobiology, tissue engineering and relevant pharmacological interventions. Our goal is to recreate physiologically relevant microenvironments in vitro, enabling more predictive and reliable drug testing. By engineering platforms that integrate biological complexity with physical precision, we aim to bridge the long-standing gap between lab-scale studies and clinical outcomes.
Our innovation and modular platform
Our innovation has developed a suite of organ-on-chip and microphysiological systems designed to function as scalable, end-to-end solutions for drug discovery. These include multi-spheroid generators for producing uniform 3D cultures, microfluidic gradient generators for stable drug concentration profiling, and barrier-on-chip platforms that model physiological interfaces such as the placenta, skin, lung, and blood-brain barrier. Built on chemical engineering first-principle-driven design, these systems enable high-throughput, reproducible experiments with reduced reagent consumption and minimal handling error, while also supporting real-time analysis of molecular transport under static and perfused conditions. Complemented by services such as custom fabrication, contract testing, and validation pipelines, the innovations aim to deliver a plug-and-play ecosystem of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) that reduces reliance on animal testing and improves translational predictivity.
The team
The platform is driven by a multidisciplinary team combining expertise in engineering, biology, and translational science. Notably, these devices were initially designed and developed by students of M-Lab, and we are now building on that foundation to take them forward towards broader applications and impact. Prof. Abhijit Majumder brings over a decade of experience in microfluidics and first-principle-driven device design, with a strong focus on mechanobiology and organ-on-chip systems. Dr. Devashree Jahagirdar contributes deep expertise in biotechnology, regulatory frameworks, and organ-on-chip applications, bridging science with policy and translational pathways. Saumya Jaiswal, a Ph.D. researcher with a background in pharmaceutical sciences and Medical Devices (MS Pharm), brings interdisciplinary expertise spanning drug delivery, biomedical devices, and microfluidic platform development. Together, the team is committed to building scalable, human-relevant solutions for next-generation drug discovery.
From research to impact
The transition from academic research to a startup was driven by a clear realization that the developed platforms could address a critical unmet need in the drug discovery ecosystem. Moving beyond the lab required a shift toward scalability, usability, and industry relevance, transforming scientific innovation into solutions that can be adopted in real-world settings. This meant rethinking design, improving reproducibility, and ensuring that our systems are practical for routine use in research and industry workflows.
What is Bharat Innovates?
Bharat Innovates 2026 is a national-level deep-tech initiative by the Ministry of Education that showcases India’s leading research-driven innovations. It brings together students, researchers, startups, and premier institutes like IITs and IISc across sectors such as MedTech, healthcare, AI, biotechnology, advanced materials, energy, etc.
Through a multi-stage selection process, top ~100 deep-tech innovations are shortlisted for a global showcase in Nice, France, providing exposure to international investors, industry leaders, and collaborators. The initiative aims to bridge academic research with real-world impact, helping transform laboratory innovations into scalable technologies with global relevance.
Bharat Innovates 2026 impact on us
Participation in Bharat Innovates 2026 marked a significant milestone in this journey. We were selected up to the second round, placing us among the top 127 innovations, which provided strong early validation of our work. The platform allowed us to showcase our approach as a next-generation solution for drug testing, while also enabling meaningful interactions with industry experts, investors, and fellow innovators. These engagements not only reinforced our direction but also helped us better understand the needs of the ecosystem from scalability and standardization to regulatory alignment and commercialization pathways.
The experience also reinforced the global shift toward human-relevant methodologies and highlighted the opportunity to develop indigenous solutions in this space. As we move forward, the focus is to further expand our platform and contribute to a future where drug discovery is faster, more predictive, and ethically responsible.
New Book Launched – Molecules, Mentors & Mindsets: Building Indian Biopharma
Buy your copy today: https://biopatrika.com/science-society/book-molecules-mentors-mindsets-building-indian-biopharma-biocon/
Book Launch: Molecules, Mentors & Mindsets: Building Indian Biopharma | Biocon Focus
