The RespiRATE 1.0 project aims to develop a biosensor platform to study the uptake and distribution of toxins across human respiratory cell barriers. By employing cells derived from the respiratory tract (oral mucosa, nasal, and lung barriers), the toxicology of airborne chemicals is analyzed in collaboration with the German Armed Forces’ WIS Institute.

The goal is a novel biosensor chip that replicates the airway-to-lung continuum and simultaneously detects secondary toxicities, such as cardiotoxicity. This system will advance CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) defense research through body-on-a-chip technologies, enhancing the Austrian Armed Forces’ capabilities in organ-on-a-chip analytics. The project’s overarching objective is to enable testing of chemical warfare agents in both laboratory and field scenarios using living human tissue models, and to develop sensor systems for assessing respiratory and cardiac toxic effects.

By replacing animal testing and employing resource-efficient technologies, RespiRATE 1.0 contributes to sustainability and the 3Rs principles. It represents a multidisciplinary collaboration between research institutions, the Austrian Armed Forces, and industrial partners, thereby strengthening national and international defense research capabilities.