Prof Yi-Chin Toh
Program Lead / Centre Director
QUT
PROGRAM 1
Why This Matters
Worldwide, researchers and regulators are searching for better ways to predict how new medicines will behave in people. Traditional animal models frequently fail to replicate human biology, contributing to long development timelines, high costs and late-stage clinical failures.
MiPSET is helping address this challenge by creating sophisticated human-relevant models that better capture the complexity of tissues, organs, and biological systems. By developing next-generation MPS technologies tailored to emerging therapies, Program 1 aims to accelerate medical innovation while supporting Australia's growing leadership in non-animal medical product development.
What we are exploring
Research Questions
01
How can we build anatomically accurate, 3D MPS that simultaneously recapitulate organ structure, fluid dynamics, and cell biology for tubular organs (cardiovascular, respiratory, reproductive)?
02
Can we develop immune-competent MPS platforms that faithfully replicate inflammatory disease mechanisms to improve prediction of anti-inflammatory drug efficacy?
03
How do we engineer lymphoid MPS that simulate vaccine-induced immune responses in vitro using human primary cells?
04
How can microbiome-epithelium interactions be modelled within a multiplexable MPS to screen microbiome-based therapeutics?
05
What multi-organ configurations can capture brain-organ axis communication for neurological drug screening?
OUTCOMES
Potential Impact
More predictive human-relevant models for evaluating next-generation therapies, including biologics, vaccines, nanomedicines and microbiome-based treatments.
Novel testing assays and screening platforms that provide more accurate assessment of therapeutic efficacy, safety and mechanism of action.
Advanced disease and organ models that better capture human physiology, including immune, microbiome and multi-organ interactions.
PEOPLE IN THIS PROGRAM
Researchers and Investigators
Prof Alastair Stewart
CI
University of Melbourne
Prof Kirsten Spann
CI – Respiratory Virology
QUT
Prof Zhi-Yong Li
CI – Cardiovascular Biomechanics
QUT
Prof Gene Tyson
CI – Microbiome
QUT
Prof Tony Kenna
CI – Cellular Immunology
QUT
A/Prof Reza Nosrati
CI – Reproductive Health MPS
Monash University
Prof Nicolas Voelcker
CI – BBB MPS
Monash University
A/Prof Chengxue (Helena) Qin
CI – Cardiovascular Pharmacology
Monash University
A/Prof Mark Green
CI – Reproductive Health
UoM / Monash IVF
Dr Elizabeth Johnstone
CI – Live Cell Assay Development
UWA
Prof Kevin Pfleger
CI – Translational Pharmacology
UWA
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