Perfused three-dimensional cell/tissue disease models

An apparatus comprising an array of isolated perfusion bioreactor and reservoir pairs for culturing cells or tissues, the apparatus comprising

• a fluidic manifold comprising an array of fluidically isolated perfusion bioreactor and reservoir pairs for cell or tissue culture, and
• a control manifold comprising common control channels actuated in parallel to simultaneously act on each pair of bioreactors and reservoirs and means for controlling timing, flow rate and volume of cell culture medium to each bioreactor and reservoir pair,
• wherein each fluidically isolated perfusion bioreactor and reservoir pair is connected by a fluidic channel allowing re-circulation of cell culture medium,
• wherein each perfusion bioreactor and reservoir pair is fluidically isolated from all other perfusion and bioreactor pairs,
• wherein each control channel is separated from the fluidic channel by a diaphragm valve which can be deflected into a valve displacement chamber by hydraulic or pneumatic actuation,
• wherein the volume of the cell culture medium pumped through the fluidic channel into either the bioreactor or the reservoir is determined by the volume of the valve displacement chamber, and
• wherein each perfusion bioreactor comprises a removable three-dimensional cell or tissue support structure through which the cell culture medium is perfused.