Lymphatic on a Chip as a Model Host for Lymphatic Filariasis Parasites

J. Brandon Dixon of the Georgia Institute of Technology in the U.S. will develop a scalable, microfluidic-based model of a human lymphatic vessel to support adult- stage lymphatic filariasis (LF) parasites in vitro. LF parasites cause a range of diseases for which treatment options are limited. By recreating the host environment where the parasites normally reside they can keep them alive for longer periods of time, which is required for developing urgently needed new drugs. They will also integrate an optical platform for quantifying parasite viability to provide a real-time readout, and use it to test the efficacy of candidate drugs within a relevant physiological context.