Human organ models have the potential to become reliable tools for research and medicine. They mimic important properties of human organs in the laboratory and can help us understand disease mechanisms and develop new therapies. In a comprehensive systematic review, 35 scientists - with significant involvement from the Einstein Center 3R - jointly analyzed 558 primary studies on how such models were used in COVID-19 research.
The analysis shows that the models have already yielded valuable insights into the replication of SARS-CoV-2, affected cell types, and immune responses. However, their great potential for drug development, personalized medicine, and better preparation for future pandemics cannot yet be fully realized. A key reason for this is that many studies do not describe their models, experimental conditions, and results with sufficient consistency and detail, making comparisons difficult. Common standards, transparent data, and harmonized quality criteria could significantly improve the validity and generalizability of the models in the future.
Click here to access the study (open access): Low reporting quality limits the contribution of human organ models to COVID-19 research: a systematic review