Chutong Zhong is a PhD student at the London Tubular Centre, Department of Renal Medicine, University College London, supervised by Prof. Stephen Walsh and Dr. Keith Siew. Her research focuses on developing an in vitro 3D cellular model of the human distal convoluted tubule (hDCT) using urine-derived epithelial cells and the ‘Organ-on-a-Chip’ (OOaC) system. While the DCT plays a crucial role in blood pressure regulation, there is a lack of healthy and diseased cellular models representing the hDCT. Chutong has investigated a non-invasive method to isolate primary hDCT cells from urine, allowing continuous monitoring of renal disease progression. She has optimised a culture protocol using these hDCT cells on a multi-channel microfluidic system to create Tubule-On-a-Chip models that mimic real-life tissue architecture and physiological responses. These models can be grown alongside artificial blood vessels to study kidney tubule-capillary interactions. The project facilitates personalised hypertension management by enabling clinicians to tailor treatment using a patient’s own urine- and blood-derived cells, enhancing our understanding of tubular physiology, disease characterisation and pharmacological research. Chutong’s work has been showcased at BIHS, ASN Kidney Week, Europhysiology and the MPS World Summit, earning her awards from BIHS, ASN Kidney STARS, Physiology Society and MPS committee