Harvard University’s vagina-on-a-chip ushers in new era for women’s health

09 Jan 2023 — Harvard researchers have used organ-on-chip technology to replicate the vaginal microbiome in vitro. The landmark innovation will be used as a preclinical model to develop treatments for bacterial vaginosis (BV) – a condition arising from vaginal microbiome dysbiosis. 

BV afflicts nearly 30% of reproductive-aged women worldwide, but research into restoring vaginal flora balance has been limited. A primary reason for this is due to lack of effective preclinical models.