The Research
The MicroTex Hub is developing new microscale technologies designed to support Phase-0 Intra-Target Microdosing (ITM) as a more precise and translational approach to therapeutic development.
Phase 0 Microdosing
Phase 0 clinical studies, also known as microdosing studies, are early-stage human research designed to evaluate how a therapeutic candidate behaves in the body before progressing to larger clinical trials.
Unlike traditional clinical trials, microdosing involves administering extremely small, subtherapeutic doses of a drug — typically less than 1% of the pharmacologically active dose and no more than 100 micrograms. These studies are intended to generate preliminary human data on pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and target engagement while minimising risk to participants.
Phase 0 approaches are increasingly recognised as an important strategy for improving translational research and supporting more informed decision-making in therapeutic development.
Why Phase 0 Matters
Improve understanding of drug behaviour in humans
Support early evaluation of therapeutic candidates
Reduce uncertainty in drug development pipelines
Enable better-informed go/no-go decisions
Improve translational efficiency between laboratory and clinical research
Current Research and Evidence
Phase 0 microdosing studies are receiving increasing attention as research in this field continues to advance. While Phase 0 approaches already exist and are being explored across a range of clinical and research settings, significant technological challenges remain in enabling precise, reproducible, and targeted intra-target microdosing applications.
MicroTex focuses on developing the microscale technologies and delivery systems needed to help support the wider translation of Phase 0 Intra-Target Microdosing (ITM) approaches into practical research and future clinical applications.
The following examples highlight areas currently being explored in the broader research literature: