Imperial launches Centre for Intestinal Systems

The use of animals, especially mice, in different studies ranging from drug testing and clinical trials to understanding the microbiome (the collection of microorganisms that lives inside human bodies) has shaped biomedical research so far. However, the use of animals comes with many problems, from ethical concerns to limited translational relevance (animal models do not provide an exact replica of diseases like inflammatory bowel disease). As scientists increasingly explore the link between the microbiome and these various conditions, the reliance on murein models continues to grow. In the UK alone, more than 24 thousand animals were used in gastrointestinal tract research in 2022 and about half a million globally in 2022-2024.

The need for mouse model alternatives

Despite their wide usage, animals have shown limited translational relevance due to variable microbiome compositions, and physiological differences in different mice owing to differences in their dietary intakes and housing styles. This makes it increasingly difficult for researchers to share experimental data or initiate collaborations, eventually leading to unclear understandings of the disease.
There is, therefore, a need for advanced, less invasive in-vitro models to study intestinal cell-microbe interactions, which will not only support academic researchers but also industry partners to effectively study nutrition, gut microbiome and gut-related disorders. In 2023, against this backdrop, Imperial College established the Imperial BRC Organoid Facility in 2023 with monetary support from the National Institute of Health & Care Research.
It has since then been serving as a multidisciplinary research and training hub to provide easy access to stem cell & organoids, strengthen disease modelling and precision medicine.

What is the Center for Intestinal Systems and what facilities will it have?

The Center for Intestinal Systems (CIS) is a nationwide collaborative initiative launched by the Imperial Organoid Facility on 12th January 2026 that will build a unique infrastructure for in-vitro modelling to advance human microbiome research.

This unique ecosystem consists of cutting-edge infrastructure, including patient-derived organoids with clinical metadata, and lab-based models of the interactions between human cells and diverse microbial cells in the gut. Another one of the main goals of the CIS’ main purpose is to foster collaboration between academic researchers and institutions across the UK, which includes connections from the London Gastrointestinal Organoid Network (LION) and industrial partners and technology developers, accelerating innovation.

How will the CIS support microbiome research?

The CIS aims to serve four key focus areas by providing access to state-of-the-art modelling platforms to mimic human conditions: 1. Disease modelling of IBD and colorectal cancer using patient-derived organoids.2. Infection and drug testing to study pathogen invasion, immune activation and mucosal disruption and healing by performing epithelial barrier assays using gut-on-chip and microfluidics systems. 3. Mechanistic nutrition and microbiome intervention by using in-vitro microbiome co-culture models such as HuMiX, PhysioMimix, to model intestinal complexity to study impact of prebiotics, Fecal Microbiota Transplants, nutrients and drugs. 4. Patient stratification and trial design to compare therapy responses for trials and precision medicine.

About the launching event

The programme, organised by CIS Partnership Manager Dr. Lejla Gul, launched at Imperial’s White City campus and began with a welcome address by Dr. Tamas Korcsmaros, who will be the Director of the Center and is currently the head of Imperial Organoid Facility. This was followed by the opening of the Center with structured talks delivered by Imperial Faculty Deans from the several departments that have contributed to forming this institution, including Metabolism, Hepatology and Gastroenterology, as well as Head of Research Funding at the National Center for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research Dr. Katie Bates.

The session proceeded with keynote industrial talks from Korean biotech company MEPSGEN’s CSO and CEO, as well as innovation showcasing by other prominent biotech companies specialising in the development of organoids and stem cell technologies, like ProDigest and BiomimX.

The CIS launch marks the beginning of a new era of gut microbiome research that will significantly contribute to the reduction and replacement of animal models. It will support research for wide-ranging fields, from nutrition and microbiome science to cancer, IBD and pharmacomicrobiomics. CIS provides a unique, collaborative platform for researchers to develop human-relevant disease models, new precision therapeutics with greater translational relevance.