Abstract: A microfluidic chamber, including: an internal compartment sized and shaped for culturing cells; an external compartment surrounding at least part of the internal compartment, sized and shaped for culturing cells; at least one flow path connecting the internal compartment and the external compartment, sized and shaped to allow penetration of cell extensions from the internal compartment into the external compartment, wherein the internal compartment, the external compartment and the at least one flow path are formed on a base layer of the microfluidic chamber; at least one micro-pattern in the base layer of said microfluidic chamber shaped and sized to align cells cultured in the microfluidic chamber relative to each other.