A method for growing tissue in vitro includes the steps of: (i) providing a deformable substrate which is seeded with tissue-forming cells and which defines at least one flow channel containing a fluid culture medium; (ii) applying, substantially parallel to the flow channel, a cyclically varying load to the substrate, which load deforms the substrate to provide mechanical cueing for the cells; and (iii) inhibiting the flow of culture medium in one direction of the flow channel so that the deformation of the substrate causes a net flow of the culture medium along the flow channel in the opposing direction, thereby refreshing the culture medium in the flow channel.
