This new technology could end animal testing | Sophia Leeman | TEDxDuke

Are animals really the best models for drug testing? Sophia Leeman is challenging this tradition using a technology that is poised to revolutionize preclinical testing as we know it. Sophia is a senior at Duke University, where she applies her studies in Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science to revolutionize healthcare. As a Huang Fellow at the Musah Lab, she has spent the last four years advancing preclinical models to unravel the mysteries of kidney disease, utilizing cutting-edge technologies like organs-on-chips. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.02.11.63... Her dedication to improving healthcare goes beyond the lab. Sophia has also crafted machine learning architectures for future applications in drug development and built prosthetics for the Durham community. Currently, she's developing a novel breast cancer screening device. After graduation, Sophia's journey continues at Boston Consulting Group, where she hopes to further her mission of modernizing the healthcare industry. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx