News archive
New technique to evaluate human stem cells
Sunday, 10 July 2011 18:44A team of researchers at Columbia Engineering School has developed a new technique to evaluate human stem cells using cell micropatterning — a simple but powerful in vitro tool that will enable scientists to study the initiation of left-right asymmetry during tissue formation, to diagnose disease, and to study factors that could lead to certain birth defects.
New “lung-on-a-chip” device: “Organs-on-chips” could replace many animal studies in the future
Monday, 05 July 2010 14:09Donald E. Ingber, Harward Univ., Boston (MA/USA), and colleagues have created a device that mimics a human lung on a microchip by using human lung and blood vessel cells and combining microfabrication techniques from the computer industry with modern tissue engineering techniques. The ability of the device to predict absorption of airborne nanoparticles and mimic the inflammatory response triggered by microbial pathogens, is a further proof for the concept that „organs-on-chips“ could replace many animal studies.
"3R Science Award" supports development and regulatory acceptance of 3R-methods
Friday, 02 July 2010 14:07The "European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing (EPAA)" a voluntary collaboration between the European Commission, European trade associations, and companies from 7 industry sectors, wants to accelerate the development, validation and acceptance of alternative approaches. The joint initiative announces an award up to 100.000€ to support the development and regulatory acceptance of 3Rs alternative methods.
"AltTox Digest" May/June 2010 online available
Wednesday, 30 June 2010 14:05The actual issue of the AltTox Digest is now available online. Amongst others it includes: The OECD approved a new guideline for an in vitro skin irritation test method; the Human Toxicology Project Consortium announces a workshop; new information about the upcoming 8th World Congress on Alternatives & Animal Use in the Life Sciences (August 21-25, 2011 Montréal/Canada).
“A quantum leap in pyrogen testing” sets a benchmark in advancing animal welfare
Wednesday, 12 May 2010 13:51A unique patented assay for detecting and quantifying various substances inducing fever (pyrogens), the „PyroDetect System“, simulates human pyrogen-induced fever reactions better than any animal test available on the market. The Europ. Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods confirmed an easy manageability and the reliability of the assay, which now is introduced into the European Pharmacopoeia in 2010 as an alternative to the rabbit test.
Russia: More and more universities stop the use of animals in education
Wednesday, 12 May 2010 13:49In the News column of the current issue of ALTEX G. Krummenacher announces as headline “RUS: The Ural region stops inhumane education”. A formal agreement between Perm State Pharmaceutical Academy and the International Network for Humane Education (InterNICHE) was already signed on February 2010. The Academy is the tenth Russian higher education institute to sign such a contract concerning the introduction of alternatives to animal labs.
Ministry for Environment Rheinland-Pfalz supports a project to avoid animal experiments with 40.000 Euro
Saturday, 06 February 2010 13:44Environment minister Margit Conrad supports a research project of Mainz University, which should replace in the long term severe procedures on animals to study malfunctions of the blood-spinal cord barrier, that may occur after physical injuries of the spinal cord.
Proving of new active pharmaceutical ingredients: Artificial vascular system to replace animal experiments
Friday, 15 January 2010 13:43Scientists from the Medical University Jena, together with partners from industry, work on the development of a system ("Flusskammersystem"), that allows the real-time observation of the behaviour of living cells in the vessels of an artificial cell structure.
A new in vitro alternative to the in vivo Histamine Sensitization test: the cAMP assay
Friday, 08 January 2010 13:41For reasons of reproducibility and animal welfare concern, a promising in vitro assay was developed by scientists in the Netherlands.
New online database for serum-free cell culture media
Tuesday, 15 September 2009 13:04The BioMed-zet Life Science GmbH developed a new online database which provides information about serum free cell culture media.
Dr. rer. nat.
Menschen für Tierrechte - Tierversuchsgegner Rheinland-Pfalz e.V.