Breathtaking BioLiver Platform

The BioLiver Platform is an ex vivo perfusion system designed to support liver research by maintaining a functional, living liver outside the body. By supplying oxygen and nutrients and offering full control over perfusion dynamics, it allows researchers to evaluate hepatic devices and therapies under near-physiological conditions.

During my bachelor internship at LifeTec Group, I focused on improving the mechanical environment in which the liver is placed. I addressed sources of flow disturbance and mechanical stress through iterative design, improving perfusion stability and making the platform more reliable for long-term experiments. These refinements contribute directly to the platform’s usability and research potential.

This hands-on experience strengthened my belief that design can play a crucial role in advancing (bio)medical research. Working closely with engineers from other disciplines, I saw how thoughtful design decisions can positively influence outcomes.

This internship inspired me to continue exploring the intersection of design and biomedical engineering. First, by becoming a secondary master’s student in Biomedical Engineering and now by pursuing a PhD. This project reflects a strong integration of MDC through the analysis of perfusion and biological data, T&R in prototyping functional improvements, CA in refining the platform’s mechanical environment and BE through enhancing the platform’s value for commercial and academic research use.