Popular
Innovation examples
HealthToxicologyIn vitro
Thyroid Hormone & Brain Development: animal-free models for human safety assessment
The environment can have a significant impact on a child's health even before birth. Brain development begins in the first trimester and continues until the age of 25, with thyroid hormone playing a critical role. During early pregnancy, the fetus depends on the mother's thyroid hormone, and a disruption in the thyroid hormone balance can lead to cognitive and motor impairments in the child. As part of the VHP4Safety project, we are developing in vitro tests to measure the developmental neurotoxic effects caused by disturbances thyroid hormone concentrations. Current testing guidelines do not always include testing for neurodevelopmental effects, highlighting the need for new non-animal methods. At the Erasmus Medical Center, human cell lines representing brain cell types are cultured to study the effect of chemicals on the thyroid hormone balance. RIVM uses human stem cells to create neuron-astrocyte networks that mimic brain development. By combining these different assays and models, we are creating a comprehensive human-based testing strategy to assess developmental neurotoxicity. These advances are a critical step toward eliminating animal testing while protecting the health and environment of future generations.
Innovation examples
HealthToxicology
Zebrafish in toxicity testing
Zebrafish are increasingly recognised as a useful model for toxicity testing of chemical substances. Testing strategies are becoming more based on mechanisms of toxicity structured in adverse outcome pathways describing the chain of events leading to toxicity or disease. Using a battery of dedicated in vitro and in silico assays, insight can be gained in how exposure leads to disease. For certain diseases it is known that toxicity relies on the interaction between different organs and cell types, which requires research on whole organisms in addition to simple in vitro models. The zebrafish is considered a valuable whole organism model in a mechanism-based testing strategy. At RIVM, the zebrafish embryo model is used for testing the effect of chemical substances on several adverse outcomes and diseases.
For more information see: https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/EHP9888; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18136717; www.linkedin.com/in/harm-heusinkveld
Innovation examples
In vitroOrgan-on-Chip
Unified organoid system for modeling heart and kidney interaction on-a-chip
Beatrice Gabbin is a PhD candidate at the Anatomy and Embryology Department of the Leiden University Medical Center. Her project is shared with the Nephrology Department and focusses on the study of the cardiorenal axis in vitro. Both heart and kidneys have vital functions in the human body and reciprocally influence each other’s behavior: pathological changes in one can damage the other. There are already multiple independent in vitro (human) models of heart and kidney, but none have so far captured their dynamic crosstalk. The aim of the project is therefore to develop a microfluidic system which can be used to study heart and kidney interaction in vitro. For this purpose, cardiac microtissues and kidney organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells are generated and loaded onto a 3D perfusion chip for their dynamic co-culture. This system enables the study the cardiac and kidney interaction with a high level of control. The validation of a unified organoid system will enable the investigation of diseases involving the two organs and their potential treatments. Read more via the link in the video and https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100818.
Expert interviews
Toxicology
How do we use human data in risk assessment
In this video, EFSA explains how they do risk assessment and what the role of NAMs can be in this process.
New
Questions
HelpathonsPolicyBeginner
Helpathon #12 – Can you help Erica?
We are inviting Dutch-speaking citizens from all walks of life to join a unique Helpathon and help Erica van Oort, coordinator of the Animal-Free Transition Program (TPI) in the Netherlands. No prior knowledge of animal testing is required—your fresh perspective can help Erica communicate more effectively about animal-free research.
We strongly believe that well-informed citizens are key to improving democratic policy-making on health research, with and without animals. Please share this invitation to at least one suitable person who could contribute—and of course, you are warmly welcome to join as well.
Projects and initiatives
HealthToxicology
The NAM Navigator: A unique repository for information on the validation and acceptance of New Approach Methodologies
The NAM navigator is an innovative knowledge portal to navigate you to and through valuable information on the development, standardization, validation and acceptance of New Approach Methodologies (NAM). The NAM Navigator acts as an online guide that provides specific information needed in each of these steps, thereby increasing the broad use of animal-free innovations. Follow the link in the video to start navigating!
Projects and initiatives
HealthToxicologyIn vitroIn silico
VHP4Safety project
The safety testing of chemicals and pharmaceuticals traditionally relies on animal studies. However, these raise ethical concerns and often fail to accurately predict human responses. New scientific developments offer opportunities to build a Virtual Human Platform (VHP) for safety assessment, a platform that enables assessment based solely on human physiology and biology, integrating data from in vitro and in silico models. This video explains how we are developing the VHP through an interdisciplinary approach. Read the paper in the videolink or visit or VHP4Safety (https://vhp4safety.nl/) for more information.
Innovation examples
HealthToxicologyIn silico
AI agents for safer science: How AI is Changing Chemical Risk Assessment
This video introduces a novel approach to chemical safety, where intelligent digital agents guided by large language models support scientists in making faster, more transparent decisions. By automating complex workflows and integrating tools like the OECD QSAR Toolbox, these agentic systems help prioritise research, reduce reliance on animal testing, and pave the way for safer, more sustainable innovation.