The Humane Research Trust

Fascinating article discussing the use of animal-derived Matrigel and synthetic hydrogel scaffolds in organoid culture. 💬 "A limitation of natural Matrigel is that the components are complex and ambiguous, preventing a complete understanding of the specific mechanisms of action of Matrigel in cell culture, regenerative medicine, and drug discovery," say the authors. "Moreover, there is an urgent need to discover biomaterials more suitable for organoid growth and that better stimulate microenvironment of real organs." https://lnkd.in/e2BjPGAU

The latest Humane Research grant round is currently open! This is a research funding opportunity open to medical researchers across the UK. 🧫 We fund projects to advance understanding of human diseases without the use of animals or animal-derived products. Applications are currently open for the scheme, click the link below to learn more ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/efXtxKV6 #ResearchGrant #ResearchUK #BiomedicalResearch

🥂 Here's to 2025! Happy New Year from all of us here at the Trust. We hope you had fun celebrating on New Year's Eve, and are now having a restful bank holiday.

🚨 REMINDER: There's just one month left to go to submit to Advances in Animal Free Models and Data Analysis for Drug Development, a special edition of Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine. The journal is currently seeking review submissions on animal-free approaches such as 3D in vitro cell cultures and mathematical and computer modelling. 🗓️ Submission deadline: 31 January 2025 🔗 Learn more and submit your paper: https://lnkd.in/eztcPKhT

Fancy a new challenge in 2025? Our scientific advisory panel is recruiting UK scientists and medical researchers to support our charity's grants programme. You will help us decide which research projects to fund, as well as have the opportunity to provide independent recommendations to help inform our strategy, policies, and communications. Are you: ✅ passionate about replacing animals in research, ✅ a PhD holder with research experience, ✅ available to support up to 3 days per year? If so, email your CV and a short cover letter to info@humaneresearch.org.uk The full details: https://lnkd.in/eSzcQCz9

Merry Christmas from all of us here at the Trust! ✨ We hope you're having a restful time over the Christmas period and are enjoying some festivities today!

...And that's a wrap! Our office closes tomorrow for the Christmas period. 🎄 You're welcome to browse our website and place an order from our gift shop over the festive period, but please note any orders won't be sent out until we return to the office on Jan 2nd. We're off to relax with a mince pie (or two!) now - you should do the same!

It's the time of year for expressing gratitude - and we'd like to take a moment to say a big thank you to all our volunteers for the time they have given to the Trust this year. In fact, many of our volunteers have been with us not just in 2024, but going back many years! Recently, we were lucky enough to be joined by Van, Sima, Valerie, Fiona, Lol, and Hazel, who helped us pack up our Winter 2024 newsletter to post out to our supporters. Of course, we all took some time to enjoy a few treats and festivities, too! As a small charity, we couldn't do all we do without their unwavering support.

We're so excited for our first ever jointly hosted scientific conference with three of the leading UK funders of animal replacement research: ourselves, Animal Free Research UK and Replacing Animal Research. It's called 'Best practice in non-animal research methods' and will feature expert talks, panel discussions and plenty of networking opportunities, including a welcome drinks reception and catered dinner. Make sure to grab your early bird tickets while you still can! These exclusive rates offer tickets up at a discount for a limited time only. You've got less than 2 weeks to take advantage of this offer! Learn more about this event and register: https://lnkd.in/eJBdjrzY

The government recently revealed that British scientists experimented on 2,169 monkeys last year alone - and nearly 30,000 since 2009. Distressingly, 69% of these experiments either caused moderate or severe pain to those animals tested on, or the animal never recovered consciousness after the experiment. The vast majority of these monkeys were imported from their native countries in Asia and Africa to be used as test subjects. In large part, primates are used to test drugs for human consumption despite there being a large body of evidence suggesting tests on monkeys are not predictive of safety or effectiveness in humans. This approach to medical research is failing all of us - both monkeys and humans. We think there's a better way - in particular, advances in computer modelling make predicting human responses to drugs a viable option for scientists. This World Monkey Day, and every other day too, we're standing against procedures on these beautiful, intelligent creatures! #WorldMonkeyDay