Science & Technology

ICMR-NIRWoH and IIT Bombay Develop India's Indigenous 'Placenta-on-Chip' Platform

By TestNeeti Editorial TeamPublished Saturday, 4 July 2026 2 min readSource: The HinduArticle 7 of 8

As reported on 4 July 2026, researchers from the ICMR-National Institute for Research on Women's Health (ICMR-NIRWoH), Mumbai (formerly ICMR-NIRRCH), in collaboration with IIT Bombay, have developed an indigenous lab-grown 'placenta-on-chip' platform that recreates key functions of the human placental barrier. The device reproduces essential placental processes — hormone production, glucose and nutrient transfer, waste (e.g. urea) removal and selective barrier function — and can even mimic hyperglycaemic conditions resembling gestational diabetes. Unlike many existing placenta-on-chip systems that need sophisticated microfluidic and continuous-perfusion equipment, the Indian platform is designed to be simple, scalable and compatible with conventional laboratory workflows. It offers a promising, human-relevant model for studying pregnancy complications, evaluating how drugs cross the placenta, and reducing dependence on animal testing.

Key Facts & Details

9 points

1
ICMR-NIRWoH (Mumbai) and IIT Bombay developed an indigenous 'placenta-on-chip' (reported 4 July 2026).
2
It recreates key human placental-barrier functions.
3
It reproduces hormone production, glucose/nutrient transfer, waste removal and selective barrier function.
4
It can mimic hyperglycaemic (gestational-diabetes-like) conditions.
5
It is designed to be simple, scalable and lab-friendly (no complex microfluidics needed).
6
It supports pregnancy research and drug testing while reducing reliance on animal models.

Deep Dive

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'Organ-on-chip' devices are microengineered systems that mimic the functions of human organs for research.
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ICMR-NIRWoH (formerly the National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health) is an ICMR institute focused on women's health.
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Human-relevant models can improve the prediction of drug safety in pregnancy compared with animal studies.

Exam Focus

Which Indian institutes developed an indigenous 'placenta-on-chip' platform in 2026?

Exam Relevance & Angle

Indigenous biomedical innovation is a recurring Science & Technology / health GA theme. Examiners test the institutes (ICMR-NIRWoH + IIT Bombay), the 'placenta-on-chip', and its purpose (pregnancy research, drug testing, less animal testing) — clean, testable hooks.

Target Exams

SBI POIBPS POIBPS RRB OfficerRBI Grade BSSC CGLSSC CHSLRRB NTPCRRB ALPUPSC CSEState PCS

Background & Context

An 'organ-on-chip' is a small microengineered device lined with living human cells that reproduces the key functions of a human organ, used to study biology and test drugs more realistically than in animals. The placenta is the organ that connects a developing foetus to the mother, handling nutrient/oxygen transfer, waste removal, hormone production and acting as a selective barrier. The ICMR-National Institute for Research on Women's Health (ICMR-NIRWoH), Mumbai — formerly the National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (NIRRCH) — is an institute of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Such human-relevant models are increasingly promoted globally to reduce reliance on animal testing in drug development.