Submission deadline: 31 July 2026

This Virtual Special Issue (VSI) in Gene is dedicated to the cutting-edge intersection of organoid biology and organ-on-chip technologies, spotlighting the latest advances presented at the World Cancer Research in 3D meeting. These innovative platforms are revolutionizing our understanding of human development, disease modeling, and personalized medicine by offering physiologically relevant, scalable, and ethically sound alternatives to traditional models.  

We invite contributions that explore: 

• The genetic and molecular characterization of organoids and organ-on-chip systems
• Integration of multi-omics approaches to dissect cellular heterogeneity and function
• Applications in disease modeling, drug screening, and regenerative medicine
• Advances in bioengineering, microfluidics, and 3D bioprinting
• Ethical, regulatory, and translational aspects of these technologies 

This VSI aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and highlight transformative research that bridges genomics, cell biology, and bioengineering. Submissions from WORC participants and the broader scientific community are welcome.

This Virtual Special Issue (VSI) in Gene is dedicated to the rapidly evolving intersection of organoid biology and organ-on-chip technologies, highlighting the most recent advances showcased at the Workshop on Organoids and Organ-on-Chip (WORC) meeting. These innovative platforms are fundamentally transforming biomedical research by providing physiologically relevant, scalable, and ethically sound alternatives to traditional animal and two-dimensional cell culture models. Organoids and organ-on-chip systems enable unprecedented insights into human development, tissue homeostasis, and disease mechanisms by recapitulating key aspects of organ architecture and function in vitro.

The Special Issue welcomes contributions that span the full spectrum of this interdisciplinary field, including but not limited to: advances in organoid derivation and characterization, integration of microfluidic and bioengineering approaches, disease modeling, drug screening, and personalized medicine applications. We are particularly interested in studies that demonstrate how these technologies can bridge the gap between basic research and clinical translation, offering new avenues for regenerative medicine, toxicology, and precision oncology. By bringing together leading research from the WORC community and beyond, this VSI aims to foster collaboration, inspire innovation, and accelerate the adoption of organoid and organ-on-chip platforms in both academic and translational settings.

Guest editors:

Marianna Kruithof-de Julio,

University of Bern Department for Biomedical Research, Bern, Switzerland; Adjunct Professor, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

Manuscript submission information:

Manuscripts should be submitted online at https://www.editorialmanager.com/genejournal/default.aspx

Please select “VSI: Organoids and Organ-on-Chip" when submitting your manuscript to this special issue and indicate the actual article type in the cover letter.

The deadline for manuscript submission is 31 July 2026.