It is wonderful that the government is currently working on a roadmap to phase out animal testing. But if it does not include specific targets and clear timelines, it will not alter the status quo, which is deeply entrenched and resistant to change.
Sign this petition to call for an ambitious and detailed UK roadmap for the phase-out of animal research and testing. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – we must make sure it really delivers!
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
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
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!
Queen Mary University of London’s Dr Adrian Biddle and Sophie O’Kane of Karolinska Institutet recognised in inaugural next generation spotlight awards
LEADING PROFESSOR of Evidence-Based Transition to Animal-free Innovations of Utrecht University, Dr Merel Ritskes-Hoitinga, has been awarded Animal Free Research UK’s Pioneer Medal 2023.
Now in its second year, The Pioneer Award celebrates the achievements of trailblazing scientists who conduct medical research without the use of animals. Last year the award was accepted by Dr Donald E Ingber of Harvard University.
This year also sees the announcement of two new awards, which shine a light on the next generation of inspiring animal free researchers. Dr Adrian Biddle of Queen Mary University London has been awarded the inaugural Outstanding Scientist 2023, and Sophie O’Kane of Karolinska Institutet is first to be awarded Early Career Scientist 2023.
All three winners will receive a specially commissioned accolade during Animal Free Research UK’s Science Conference, taking place in Cambridge over October 4-5th, and each will deliver a lecture on their pioneering contribution to animal free research.
Announcing the winners, Animal Free Research UK’s Science Director Dr Jarrod Bailey said:
“Dr Merel Ritskes-Hoitinga is an expert in her field, leading the way in enabling the adoption of ground-breaking new technologies that are revolutionising the way we conduct medical research. We are thrilled to name her this year’s Pioneer.
We are also proud to announce two new next generation spotlight awards. Our Outstanding Scientist 2023, Dr Adrian Biddle, has made a notable contribution to the field of pioneering animal-free cancer research at the Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University London, inspiring countless young scientists to follow in his footsteps. Early in her profession, Sophie O’Kane is one to watch, her enthusiasm and commitment to pursuing an animal free career shines through in her work to date.”
Pioneer Award Winner, Dr Merel Ritskes-Hoitinga, said: “It is a tremendous honour for me to receive the Animal Free Research UK Pioneer Award. I dedicate my education and research efforts to evidence-based acceleration towards the adoption of animal-free methodologies. This award serves as a motivating force propelling me towards achieving this critical objective, one that holds immense benefits for both animals and humans.”
Outstanding Scientist Winner, Dr Adrian Biddle, said: “I am deeply honoured to win this Animal Free Research award. I have witnessed, over the past decade, the fantastic work that Animal Free Research UK does to raise the profile of animal free research approaches in UK bioscience. It has been really rewarding to have been able to play a role in this. The future of animal free research is certainly bright, and I look forward to a future of technological innovation that enables further replacement of animals in research.”
Early Career Scientist Winner, Sophie O’Kane said: “Words cannot express how it feels to have been awarded the Early Career Scientist Award! To be recognised for something I have found to be as challenging as it has been fulfilling is especially rewarding, and inspires me to call upon all scientists, young and old, to reflect with an open-heart, to embrace novel alternative methods and to join us in the much needed race to replace non-human animals in human medical research.”
Animal Free Research UK CEO, Carla Owen, said: “The Pioneer Awards are a prestigious annual mark of achievement, elevating animal free research and researchers in the scientific community and inspiring the next generation of scientists. The decisions more and more scientists like Dr Merel Ritskes-Hoitinga, Dr Adrian Biddle and Sophie O’Kane make to champion animal replacement in their work is unlocking answers to the many questions we still have about diseases. Their groundbreaking work deserves to be recognised.”
A fascinating 35 minute presentation, followed by 40 minutes of Q&A.
Dr Pandora Pound, Research Director from Safer Medicines Trust, will be presenting her forthcoming book ‘Rat Trap: The Capture of Medicine by Animal Research – and how to Break Free’ on Monday July 31st at 6pm in a webinar hosted by Kat Herrmann.
In her book, Dr Pound, slays the many myths about animal research and shows that, far from being a necessary evil, it is one of the most important and urgent scientific issues of our time.
The webinar will discuss Dr Pound’s book as well as the difficulties she faced getting it published, throwing light on the challenges of communicating with the general public about the science and replacement of animal research.
Click here to register and find out more: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/book-launch-rat-trap-the-capture-of-medicine-by-animal-research-tickets-635553526707
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.
#humanrelevantscience
#lushprize