Toxicology and pharmacology assays are currently carried out in cell lines or experimental animals. Scientists of the TOXANOID project developed mini organs in a dish, which outperform existing in vitro systems.
Organoids are three-dimensional structures made of adult cells that mimic the tissue of origin in basic organisation and function. They emerge from tissue-specific stem cells, a small subpopulation of cells that resides within each organ and can regenerate it throughout life.
Further details: Mini organs in a dish