Can Virtual Humans And Micro-lungs Bring The End Of Animal Research?

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Article Date: 07 Jun 2009 - 0:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

Science fact meets science fiction as experts imagine a future without animal research and how we might get there - at this year's Cheltenham Science Festival.

The event**, organised by New Scientist and the NC3Rs, will explore the latest advances in research that are being harnessed to reduce our use of animals, and how such technologies might develop in the future. Dr Kelly BéruBé, Cardiff University, and Dr Steven Manos, University College London, will explore the science, science fiction writer Paul McAuley will give a far-future diagnosis, and New Scientist editor Roger Highfield will join them to discuss the issues raised and field questions from the audience.

Cell biologist Dr BéruBé will showcase her efforts to develop 'micro-lungs' that have the potential to replace the use of large numbers of animals in research. She believes that "developing intelligent cell growth scaffolds is the new era of cell culture. By recreating tissue environments, we will improve understanding of many aspects of cell behaviour including wound healing and responses to therapeutic drugs without the use of animal models."

Computational scientist Dr Manos will describe where we are on the path towards the 'virtual human' through the Europe-wide Virtual Physiological Human project***. In his view "the models are already increasing our understanding of how to better treat disease. Not only will simulation lead to the reduction and eventual elimination of animals in testing, but it will also improve healthcare worldwide." But he cautions that "today, even the most sophisticated computer models only represent a small fraction of the complexity of animals. Real reduction is therefore going to be a long-term, not near-term, goal."

Paul McAuley imagines our great granddaughter viewing today's medicines as only a little less crude "than the early twentieth-century patent medicine called Lung Kuro, which was not so much a cure, as a palliative, containing a healthy proportion of alcohol, chloroform and that universal fixer-upper heroin." Instead, new drugs "are like highly-trained snipers, precisely targeting affected cells and leaving everything else untouched." He thinks that "in our granddaughter's world, precise drug targeting, made possible by tests on microtissue cultures and virtual computer models of individuals, means that animal testing is no longer necessary."

'Beyond Animal Research' is supported by the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs), in association with New Scientist. It is part of the Centre's programme of activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the concept of 'the 3Rs' (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement).

The event is also being held to coincide with the announcement of the winner of the New Scientist/NC3Rs essay competition. See here.

** 'Beyond animal research' is at 6.30pm on Thursday 4 June and more information can be found here.

*** For more information on the Virtual Physiological Human project go to http://www.vph-noe.eu

The Times Cheltenham Science Festival

The Times Cheltenham Science Festival is a five-day celebration of science, engineering and the arts. A rare opportunity for the public to come face-to-face with the world's leading scientists and thinkers, the festival attracts 30,000 visits by members of the public and over 300 speakers to discuss, celebrate and argue about science. The interactive hands-on Discover Zone attracts over 10,000 visitors and in 2008, the schools' programme attracted 3,500 school children. This year's Guest Director, Carol Vorderman, has inspired a programme that features the big names in science including Professor Lord Winston, Susan Blackmore, Lord Drayson and Alice Roberts plus other well known faces including Heston Blumenthal and Dara O'Briain. http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/science

Sources
NC3Rs and New Scientist