# PCOS and androgen-related disease modeling and drug testing in Multi-organ Integrated Microfluidic Reproductive Platform

> **NIH NIH UH3** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $1,181,686

## Abstract

Project Summary
Microfluidic systems have been developed that support 28 day reproductive cycles including ovarian follicle
growth, ovulation, and luteinization with the accompanying changes in estradiol and progesterone. The
oocytes that are released from the follicle in this setting are healthy and have the predicted nuclear and
cytoplasmic maturation phenotypes of in vivo ovulated oocytes. We have integrated the ovarian tissue and
cycling hormone profiles into a multiplexed microdynamic unit that includes human fallopian tube tissue,
uterine endometrium, cervix, and liver organoids. We have also adapted mouse islets and separately, human
testis and prostate into similarly bioactive systems. The purpose of this application is to further our work by
implementing a next generation microfluidic system that has been created for the express purpose of a high
throughput robotics setting that will enable drug testing of integrated organ systems that mimic a variety of
reproductive diseases. The hypothesis that will be tested in that we can create an in vitro microfluidic system
that represents hallmarks of polycystic ovary syndrome, a multiorgan disease that affects 8-10% of
reproductive age women and for whom there is no adequate in vitro model. During the past 4 years of work,
we developed the first generation microfluidic platform that permitted the hormone and tissue level function
above. In aim 1 of the present application, we will finalize a new system that was built expressly for a robotics
laboratory. This system is made of materials that does not absorb steroids and has pumping profiles that are
stable up to one month. Prototypes have also been handled robotically. Onboard controllers, pumps and
batteries have been adapted with the goal of a low cost, reusable device that could be easily used in an
incubator as well as the larger scale-screening laboratory. Our goal is to develop a device that will replace all
ordinary plated culture work so that biologists can move away from studying flat cells in static waste-
accumulating models. In aim 2 we will establish models of PCOS for each organ and for the organs connected
to each other and test a variety of drugs in aim 3 that will alter androgen or insulin metabolism. This will be
done with Astrazeneca. Taken together, our studies will provide a next generation toolbox important to
women's health and to the broader field of cell biology.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10017982
- **Project number:** 5UH3ES029073-04
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Ji-Yong Julie Kim
- **Activity code:** UH3 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,181,686
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-15 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10017982

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10017982, PCOS and androgen-related disease modeling and drug testing in Multi-organ Integrated Microfluidic Reproductive Platform (5UH3ES029073-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10017982. Licensed CC0.

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