Lush Prize joins the Alliance for Human Relevant Science
Author: Rebecca Ram
Our new publication in Frontiers in Drug Discovery: How complex in vitro models are addressing the challenges of predicting drug-induced liver injury
We are very pleased to share our recently published paper in Frontiers in Drug Discovery on How complex in vitro models are addressing the challenges of predicting drug-induced liver injury.
Predicting which drugs might have the potential to cause drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is highly complex and the current methods, 2D cell-based models and animal tests, are not sensitive enough to prevent some costly failures in clinical trials or to avoid all patient safety concerns for DILI post-market. Animal-based methods are hampered by important species differences in metabolism and adaptive immunity compared to humans and the standard 2D in vitro approaches have limited metabolic functionality and complexity. The Alliance for Human Relevant Science hosted a workshop at the Royal Society, London entitled Drug-Induced Liver Injury (DILI): Can Human-Focused Testing Improve Clinical Translation? The conclusion was that complex in vitro models (CIVMs) provide a significant step forward in the safety testing paradigm. This perspective article, written by Dr. Katy Taylor and Alliance members representing collaboration across academia and industry, provides a ‘state of play’ on liver CIVMs with recommendations for how to encourage their greater uptake by the pharmaceutical industry.
Full citation: Taylor, K, Ram, R, Ewart, L, Goldring, C, Russomanno, G, Aithal, GP, Kostrezewski, T, Bauch, C, Wilkinson, JM, Modi, S, Kenna, JG, Bailey, J. Perspective: How complex in vitro models are addressing the challenges of predicting drug-induced liver injury. Front. Drug Discov. 5 – 2025.
Read the full paper here
Safer Medicines Trust publishes an evaluation of the UK’s Early Access to Medicines Scheme
One Month remaining to apply for Humane Research Trust Funding Grants
There’s only 1 month left to apply for our latest round of grant funding. If you’re a principal investigator seeking funding for a PhD or post-doctoral led project, make sure to get your application in before the deadline this February.
We’re looking for projects that advance human health and understanding of disease, as well as promote the replacement of animals in research.
Begin your application today: https://lnkd.in/efXtxKV6
Best Practice In Non-Animal Research Methods; 26-27 March 2025, York, UK.
Are you a scientist who uses or is interested in using non-animal research methods to study human diseases?
We’re hosting a conference called ‘Best practice in non-animal research methods’, alongside two other leading UK funders of animal replacement research: Animal Free Research UK and Replacing Animal Research. You’re invited!
Expect inspiring talks, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and technology and research showcases. All of this hosted over two days at the Radisson York from 26 – 27 March 2025.
A limited run of early bird tickets are on sale now;
Academic: £199
Corporate: £299
Non-government organisation: £249
Student/early career researcher: £125
Secure your ticket here before the New Year!
Alliance for Human Relevant Science 2024 Newsletter
Contributions are invited for a Special Issue in the journal ‘Animals’
The open access journal ‘Animals’ is running a Special Issue guest edited by Pandora Pound of Safer Medicines. The topic for the Special Issue is ‘Are Animal Models Needed to Discover, Develop and Test Pharmaceutical Drugs for Humans in the 21st Century?’ Original manuscripts that address this question are invited for the Special Issue. The deadline is May 15th 2020 More information can be found here.
Background to call for papers
Despite many decades of research, much of which has focused on studies in animals, humans continue to suffer from diseases and illnesses for which there are no cures or treatments. It is now clear that insights provided by animal studies do not often translate to humans, explaining the very high failure rate observed when new medicines are evaluated in human clinical trials. In addition, there is increasing evidence that animal studies are frequently conducted so poorly that no clear conclusions may be drawn from them. Some claim that if only the quality of animal studies was improved, and animal models were made to more faithfully capture the relevant human disease, then these models would begin to translate and deliver clinical benefits. Others argue that research focusing on humans is necessary to gain a better understanding of human disease and to develop safe and effective drug treatments.These scientists point to developments in human biology during the last decade that have yielded in vitro and in silico techniques capable of providing novel insights into human disease mechanisms, as well as human-relevant disease models for developing and testing drug treatments for humans. A key question is whether there is value in refining animal models, or whether these should be relinquished in favour of new, human-focused research approaches.
Launched in 2012, the Lush Prize rewards initiatives across science and campaigning that work to end or replace animal testing with modern scientific methods. Since then it has awarded prize funding of almost £3 million to 140 successful projects worldwide across several categories; Science, Training, Public Awareness, Lobbying, Political Advocacy and Young Researchers, as well as further awards and commendations to recognise Political Achievement and Major Science Collaborations. Alongside funding awards, the Prize continues its work in communications, policy and outreach on the need to transition from animal-based research to approaches which are more human and environmentally relevant.The aims of the Lush Prize align with the objectives of the Alliance to;
* Support better science for better health;
* To save lives – human and animal – through improved research, development safety and efficacy testing of medicines and other chemicals;
* To save money through more relevant research.
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