Emulate launches Brain-Chip R1, first-in-class comprehensive neurovascular unit

18 November 2025

Emulate, Inc. the pioneer of organ-on-a-chip technology, announces the launch of its Brain-Chip R1 platform, marketed as a first-in-class comprehensive model of the neurovascular unit. This latest organ-on-chip model provides the means for human-relevant drug discovery, assessment of drug transport across the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and investigation of mechanisms of neuroinflammation.

This is particularly important since human neurological diseases, such as neurodegenerative (Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and neuroinflammatory diseases (multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica) often involve BBB dysfunction. Owing to myriad inter-species differences in brain function, vascular physiology, immunity and gene expression, animal models do not capture the uniquely human features of BBB nor the human-specific susceptibility to neurovascular pathologies. The failure rate in clinical trials of treatments developed in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease is as high as 99.6%, and effective treatments remain a significant unmet need. Animal BBB differ substantially from human BBB in terms of permeability, efflux transporter expression, tight junction composition,  substrate specificity, and transport mechanisms, frequently resulting in misleading drug transport predictions and inaccurate assessment of drug exposure.

To address these challenges, the Brain-Chip R1 was designed with two parallel channels - brain and vascular - separated by a thin, porous membrane. The brain compartment integrates iPSC-derived neuronal cell types (neurons, astrocytes, microglia, pericytes) while the vascular compartment contains Emulate's proprietary induced brain microvascular endothelial cells. All five iPSC types are derived from a single human donor line, thereby enhancing physiological relevance and improving reproducibility.

The commercialisation of this latest addition to Emulate's organ-on-chip product range was made possible through Emulate's strategic collaboration with FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics, a leading developer and manufacturer of human iPSCs and iPSC-derived cells.

“The Brain-Chip R1 provides researchers with an innovative platform to model the complexities of the neurovascular unit,” said Dr. Lorna Ewart, Chief Scientific Officer at Emulate. “By integrating cutting-edge iPSC-derived cells from FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics with the dynamic microenvironment of our Organ-Chips, researchers can evaluate drug transport and inflammatory mechanisms with unprecedented human relevance.”