Patient Involvement

The Network supported members interested in understanding patient and public thinking on organ on a chip technology  - helping to ensure that technology development and application responds to the needs and concerns patients and the wider society.

If you are actively involving patients in your work on organ-on-a-chip technology - you can also share information with other Network members of the patient involvement special interest group forum page.

Patient involvement special interest group

Network member, Blerina Ahmetaj-Shala from Imperial College London set up a special interest group on organ-on-a-chip patient involvement.

Blerina is passionate about involving patients:

‘The whole concept of OOAC technology exists so that it can ultimately help transform the lives of people suffering from a range of diseases – including cardiovascular, respiratory and cancer.

‘Therefore – the patient perspective is critical. Their life experience can help us better understand their view of the opportunities and concerns of this emerging technology; particularly in terms of their own healthcare and for society as a whole. Ultimately by engaging with patients, we aim to find out how best to involve patients in the development and application of this technology; increase public awareness and ensure its potential uses in future healthcare meet the needs of patients.’

On 24 June, Blerina and Network administrator Julia Coffey, took part in an organ-on-a-chip technology discussion with a research focused, respiratory patient advisory group based at Royal Brompton.

The aim of the meeting was to:

• better understand the patient perspective - informing academics and industrialists working in the field on possible expectations, advantages and any concerns relating to this technology from a patient viewpoint.
• raise patient awareness

The patient advisors were very interested in the technology; suggesting extremely helpful improvements to our OOAC website from a public perspective as well as how to increase patient awareness.

Importantly - the discussion also generated a number insightful questions on organ-on-a-chip technology of interest to patients and public.