Projects 2010
- In the area replacement of animal experiments in vaccine testing Animalfree Research supports a project at the Paul-Ehrlich-Institute (the german institute for sera and vaccines). Dr. Karin Weisser and Dr. Beate Krämer, the latter bearer of the hessian animal protection award 2008, develop a method with which to test for product safety of tetanus vaccines without experimental animals. For the vaccine lots submitted to the Paul Ehrlich Institute alone an annual saving of 3'000 guinea pigs can be achieved.
The first intermediate report was handed in in spring 2010.
Background animal experiments in the testing of vaccines
- Support of finalization and publication of the development of a method for replacement/reduction of experimental animals (Inhalation chamber/Coculture model). The system which was supported in 2008 and 2009 was published in a peer-reviewed journal and made available to the public. Further support was granted in 2010 for the finalization of research on the interactions of gold nanoparticles and lung cells, performed entirely in vitro: this work was published recently.
publications 2010:
effects and uptake of gold nanoparticles
intracellular imaging of nanoparticles
qualitative evaluation of cellular uptake...
- Finalization of the project: Animalfree Research strategies in Nanotechnology: the acquired expertise from 2008 and 2009 and the so far established contacts are used to influence political developments in this area. Exchanges with the coordinators of important EU-projects, presence at hearings and a new publication are to emphasize the relevance of nanotechnology to animal welfare. In addition, a discussion with responsible politicians and scientists is aimed for in the course of this year.
publication ALTEX 2/09
publication ALTEX 4/09
In February 2010, the European Commission issued an online questionnaire. A public consultation on the European Strategic Nanotechnology Action Plan (SNAP) asked our opinion. You can find the report on the consultation, which includes our contribution, here (pdf-file)
- Dr. Lindén from the University of Gothenborg, Sweden, is developing a model of the human gastro-intestinal mucosa, which is suitable for studying host-pathogen interactions in infective diseases. It is not only containing the various cell types but their surface structures as well (so-called glycoproteins which differ from species to species) that an infectious agent depends on for causing disease. In the course of evolution, bactreia have adapted perfectly to these surface structures, and this is one of the reasons which make it difficult or impossible to infect experimental animals. This project has the potential to improve science in a field in which distressing animal experiments are being performed, and to render these obsolete.
- Support of the new InterNiche website (see also projects 2008): www.interniche.org
