A team of scientists have developed a simple method for automated manufacturing of lung organoids which could revolutionize the development of treatments for lung disease. These organoids, miniature structures containing the cells that real lungs do, could be used to test early-stage experimental drugs more effectively, without needing to use animal material.

In the future, patients could even have personalized organoids grown from their own tissue to try out potential treatments in advance.

“The best result for now—quite simply—is that it works,” said Professor Diana Klein of University of Duisburg-Essen, first author of the article in Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology.