Test systems based on cell cultures and artificial tissues as animal test replacement methods are an increasingly important component in research. They follow the so-called 3R approach (Replace, Reduce, Refine). Around 3.6 million euros from the funding programme “Spitzenforschung f\u00fcr Niedersachsen\u201c (Top-Level Research for Lower Saxony) are flowing into the development of alternative methods that are intended to reduce the need for animal experiments, especially in fundamental research on the intestine and respiratory tract. Researchers from Technische Universit\u00e4t Braunschweig and the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover are working together under the leadership of the Hanover Medical School (MHH).<\/p>\n
In Lower Saxony, structures have been built up in recent years in which scientific working groups have looked at ways to replace and reduce the use of laboratory animals in research. In particular, joint funding (“R2N – Replace and Reduce from Lower Saxony”) has initiated the development of alternative systems for animal model-based research. Complementary groups have emerged from this consortium which, together with some new partners in the network, want to advance alternative models for fundamental research on the digestive tract (intestine, oral mucosa) and respiratory tract. Thus, the primary aim of the joint project is to implement the “replace” idea. The use of humanised systems should also ensure optimal transferability of the results to clinical and commercial use.<\/p>\n
The aim is to produce complex microphysiological systems. These should be suitable for investigating complex questions from fundamental research. The focus is on applications in the field of infection biology and inflammation research.<\/p>\n
The teams led by Professor Andreas Dietzel and Professor Stephan Reichl are developing a chip platform with integrated sensor technology for dynamised 3D cell culture models of the intestinal tract and the respiratory tract. This means they are producing the microfluidic chip systems (organ-on-chip) that the colleagues in Hanover will use to cultivate and test their cell culture systems in. Within the collaborative project, Professor Stefan D\u00fcbel’s working group produces antibodies without animal testing, which in turn are used by working groups in Hanover for immunohistological analysis.<\/p>\n