Abstract: A method for in vitro drug screening can include: providing one or more cells in vitro; introducing a chemical to the one or more cells; introducing a mechanical strain to the one or more cells in the presence of the chemical; and determining whether or not the chemical has bioactivity with respect to the one or more cells under the mechanical strain. The mechanical strain can be implemented with a well plate defining a plurality of cell culture wells and having one or more flexible substrates associated with the well plate so that each cell culture well has a fluid tight flexible cell culture substrate.