An independent academy that builds bridges between science, business and politics

The Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) is an independent academy with a mission “...to promote engineering and economic sciences and the advancement of business and industry for the benefit of society.” We bring together leading engineers, economists, researchers, entrepreneurs and leaders in business and the public sector, who contribute generously to IVA’s operations through their intellectual capital and their engagement.

A meeting place for Sweden's future

IVA believes in humanity’s capacity to contribute positively to society through the engineering and economic sciences. We run a number of projects and programmes, produce reports, knowledge bases and policy proposals, and organise open seminars and meetings nationwide. We also recognise and encourage the efforts of others by awarding distinctions and grants.

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Human tissues on a chip: smarter drug development

Human tissues on a chip: smarter drug development

9 out of 10 new drugs fail in clinical trials because animal tests cannot predict human responses. We grow human tissues such as liver, pancreas, and intestine on a chip, creating AI-operated miniature human systems to test new medicines.

Year:

2026

University:

Karolinska institutet

Responsible Researcher:

Jibbe Keulen, Volker M. Lauschke, Wouter Metsola van der Wijngaart, Sonia Youhanna, Reza Zandi Shafagh

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Developing a new drug costs billions and takes over a decade, with most candidates failing in late-stage trials because animal models cannot replicate human metabolism. Our AI-operated platform connects human tissues such as liver, pancreas, and intestine on a single chip, mimicking how the body processes medicine. Automation makes it scalable, letting pharmaceutical companies run many tests in parallel, identify failing drugs earlier, and target diseases like diabetes and fatty liver disease that affect hundreds of millions worldwide. With granted and pending patents, the platform is ready for industrial partnerships in drug discovery, toxicity testing, and metabolic disease research.