Dynamic Immune Monitoring in Microphysiological Systems through Integrated Biosensing

Microphysiological systems (MPS) are increasingly recognized as transformative platforms for disease modeling, therapeutic evaluation, and precision medicine. However, the majority of current systems still rely on endpoint measurements or infrequent sampling strategies that provide only fragmented insight into dynamic biological processes. This limitation is particularly critical for immune-related phenomena, where cellular activation, cytokine release, and tissue responses evolve continuously over time. 

This PhD project aims to develop a new generation of sensor-integrated MPS platforms capable of real-time monitoring of immune activity within complex human-relevant tissue models. Leveraging imec's expertise in biosensing, microfluidics, microsystems engineering, and organ-on-chip technologies, the project will investigate strategies for continuous monitoring of immune-related biomarkers, secreted factors, and functional tissue responses. 

The research will focus on developing and integrating advanced sensing modalities directly within microphysiological systems to enable longitudinal, non-invasive monitoring of immune-tissue interactions. Potential technological approaches include multiplex biomolecule sensing, secretome monitoring, bioimpedance-based tissue assessment, barrier integrity measurements, and multimodal sensing approaches combining biochemical and functional readouts. 

These capabilities will be demonstrated in disease-relevant MPS applications involving immune-cell interactions with human tissues, providing unprecedented insight into cellular communication, inflammation, therapeutic responses, and disease progression. The resulting platform will enable researchers to move beyond static endpoint analyses toward continuous observation of biological dynamics. The outcomes of this project will establish foundational technologies for immune-enabled organ-on-chip platforms and contribute to the development of predictive human model systems for immunology, drug development, and precision medicine. By combining sensing, biology, and microfluidics within a single technology framework, this work will strengthen imec's leadership position in next-generation MPS and continuous biosensing technologies development and integration.