Organ-on-chip models in biomedical research: BimmoH as a tool for bibliometric analysis

Organ-on-chip (OoC) technologies are increasingly recognised as human-relevant alternatives to animal testing, offering advanced biology-based models for disease modelling, drug discovery, and precision medicine. These innovative systems allow scientists to model specific organ structures and functions, reproducing complex electromechanical stimuli and organ-organ interactions. In this study, we used the Biomedical Models Hub (BimmoH) to map the landscape of OoC human biology-based models and to perform a bibliometric analysis of the scientific publications in the field. Publication trends were assessed, leading institutions and collaboration networks were identified, and dominant research themes and keywords were analysed. In addition, BimmoH enabled a systematic evaluation of the cell types and clinical conditions represented in OoC publications, highlighting patterns of model use and application areas. The bibliometric evidence confirms that OoC research is experiencing sustained growth, driven by vascular and immune system models and cancer-related applications. However, substantial gaps persist, notably the under-representation of some organs and limited cellular diversity across existing models. Overall, these findings delineate priority areas for methodological diversification, standardisation, and policy support, and provide evidence-based insights to inform researchers, industry stakeholders, policymakers, and ethical committees seeking the integration of OoC platforms into mainstream biomedical research and regulatory practice.