Thursday, 12 November 2020 11:16

Konstanz: Young researcher honored for animal-free test method Featured

For the eighth time, the Lush Prize awarded grants totaling 250,000 pounds on November 11 and 12, 2020. Nadine Dreser from the University of Constance was one of five young international researchers who received £10,000 in funding for her non-animal research project.


In her research, Nadine uses induced stem cells to simulate early neuronal development. The cells form rosette-like structures that represent the neural tube of the embryo that develops in the womb. If these rosette structures form, healthy development of the early nervous system can be assumed.

Her research focuses on substances that can disrupt the development during this period, which can lead to an open spinal cord or even more devastating effects on the brain. One example that causes such developmental effects is valproic acid, which is taken as an anti-epileptic drug.

The negative effect of such developmentally toxic substances manifests itself in the cells in such a way that no more rosettes can be formed. The developed test method helps to reliably identify such substances. Together with other test methods of this kind, it is intended to increase safety for humans and replace lengthy developmental studies with animal experiments.

The prize money is shared by nine scientists* and activists* from seven countries. Another prizewinner from Germany, in the public relations category, is SOKO Tierschutz, which was first awarded the Lush Prize in 2015 with 20,000 pounds for the discovery of experimental situations in brain research on primates at the Max Planck Institute and received a 50,000-pound grant for further undercover operations in 2020. This award is based on the excellent public relations work that led to the publication of the abuses and the closure of the experimental laboratories Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology GmbH & Co. KG in Hamburg-Mienenbüttel and Hamburg-Neugraben.

Source:
https://lushprize.org/2020-prize/2020-prize-winners/