News & Events

The Fall 2025 edition of The Rochester Review marks 175 years of University of Rochester innovation, highlighting pioneering research that continues to shape the future of science and medicine—including groundbreaking work from biomedical engineer James McGrath and colleagues.

Now: Chips instead of animals to test medicines. For centuries, researchers have used animals to test drugs and study disease—an approach that has saved lives but remains controversial and imperfect. One reason why: Lab animals aren’t human. A promising alternative is tissue-on-chip technology, in which human cells are arranged in a microfluidic device that mimics real tissue responses. URochester is home to one of four NIH-sponsored centers that aim to produce these devices as FDA-qualified drug development tools. Led by biomedical engineering professor James McGrath along with faculty members Hani Awad, Joan Adamo, and Ben Miller from the University of Rochester Medical Center, the Translational Center for Barrier Microphysiological Systems (TraCe-bMPS) focuses on barrier functions in disease— interfaces in tissue that are critical for the progression of infection, cancer, and many autoimmune disorders. While McGrath predicts animal models will continue to be an important part of drug development processes for years, if not decades, this technology will reduce the use of such testing and increase the efficiency and accuracy of preclinical data.

Check out the full Rochester Review!  

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