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Why animal research is necessary

Mice

Why animal research is still necessary

In the quest to understand the causes of complex conditions like dementia and cancer, laboratory animals still play a significant role, including in research at VIB.

Cell cultures and other animal-free methods have so far proven inadequate for studying complex processes such as infections, metastasis, pain responses, movement, or memory.

That's why our researchers employ model organisms: animal models in which a specific biological process or disease mechanism can be studied, sometimes through specific genetic modifications. This allows them to seek new insights and potential treatment avenues.

Animal research at VIB

A small selection from our research where laboratory animals have played an essential role:

Mouse

Mice

Since its establishment, VIB has achieved significant breakthroughs that would not have been possible without animal experiments. In cancer research, VIB scientists discovered specific dendritic cells in mice that are resistant to tumor suppression. By strengthening these cells and reintroducing them as a vaccine, a potent immune response against tumors was triggered in the research animals, slowing tumor growth. Following these successful experiments, clinical trials are now being prepared to develop personalized therapies to address cancer metastasis and relapse. This critical insight in immuno-oncology would not have been possible without animal experiments.

Lama winter

Camelids

In the '90s, VIB researchers embarked on a promising journey with antibodies from camelids. Thanks to a breakthrough by VUB researchers, VIB was able to pioneer a new antibody technology known as Nanobodies©. Based on this technology, companies like Ablynx were able to introduce a drug to the market in 2018 for the treatment of aTTP (acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura), a rare and life-threatening blood disorder. Additionally, the biotech company Argenx continued to build upon the discovery of camel antibodies and launched a drug in 2022 for the neuromuscular disease Myasthenia Gravis. Today, thanks to research on camelids, there are medicines available for these life-threatening illnesses.

Animal testing?

An animal experiment encompasses any use of an animal for scientific or educational purposes in which the animal undergoes at least the same level of pain or distress as in a veterinarian's injection. According to the European animal experimentation regulations, it applies to vertebrate animals (mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, or reptiles), including, in some cases, embryos. The only exceptions are squids and octopuses, which, despite being invertebrates, are still considered experimental animals.

What rules apply?

  • The use of animals in research is subject to approval by an ethical committee.

  • Strict requirements are imposed for housing, care, and veterinary supervision.

  • Anyone handling laboratory animals and conducting experiments must have undergone training.

  • It is not allowed to use an animal in an experiment if a valid animal-free alternative exists.

The 3 Rs

As part of the evaluation of an animal experiment application by the ethical review committees, they check whether the 3Rs are correctly applied.

Reduce

The number of animals used in experiments must be limited to the minimum necessary to obtain a scientific answer to the research question.

Refine

Pain, discomfort, or stress during the animal experiment must be minimized as much as possible. This means, for example, that animals should be anesthetized when feasible.

Replace

An animal experiment is prohibited if a reasonable and practical alternative is available. For instance, if a research question can be answered using cultured cells, then this alternative must be utilized.

Examples of the 3 R's at VIB

fUSI

REDUCE: Increasing data per animal experiment

VIB researchers are measuring brain activity in mice using functional ultrasound imaging, a method that tracks the dynamics of blood volume in the brain. This technique enables neuroscientists to study global brain processes in mice and significantly increase the amount of data and insights obtained from a single animal experiment.

blaasontsteking

REFINE: Visualizing urinary tract infections

VIB researchers have outlined how bioluminescence imaging can be used to sensitively and non-invasively study urinary tract infections in mice. This refined approach will significantly enhance research on urinary tract infections and the discovery of new methods for prevention and treatment.

cell culture

REPLACE: Animal-free alternatives

Rapid innovation

In addition to simple 2D cell cultures, there are now 3D cell cultures, organoids, and even organs-on-chips to study biological processes without the use of animals. These methods are continuously improving and offer alternative, often superior, ways to address specific research questions.

Valuable but not always adequate

Even the most advanced 3D organoids do not fully replicate a living organism. They fall short in mapping biological mechanisms that involve communication and interaction between different tissues and organs or in assessing effects on behavior, coordination, or memory.

A complementary approach

Animal experiments and animal-free alternatives are often used in a complementary manner. For instance, an animal experiment can provide specific information that is subsequently further investigated using animal-free alternatives, and vice versa.

Animal-free innovation at VIB

microfluidic chamber

Microfluidics for ALS research

VIB researchers have developed a method for generating human neuromuscular junctions, the contact points between nerves and muscle cells essential for controlling movement by our brains. This model has already been successfully used to study the mechanisms of ALS, an incurable neurodegenerative condition.

cell culture

Organoids for cancer research

VIB researchers have pioneered vascular organoids, allowing them to study endothelial cells (the cells lining our blood vessels) and their responses in tumor tissue. These experiments, traditionally conducted in mice, are now being conducted using this innovative approach.

fruit fly vials

Alternative models for CMT

VIB researchers achieved a groundbreaking milestone by developing a fruit fly model for hereditary peripheral neuropathy, specifically for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which affects both motor and sensory nerve cells. Additionally, they created various cellular and yeast models. These models are essential for mapping disease processes and understanding how they result in nerve pathway problems.

FAQ

Can't animal experiments be replaced by computer simulations?

With the rise of artificial intelligence, it sometimes seems as if computers can provide us with answers to every question. However, every form of artificial intelligence is, of course, fueled by data, and that data must come from somewhere. Therefore, computer models and animal research can be viewed as complementary.

A mouse is not a human. Does an animal experiment have any value for us?

Animals are not humans, but the use of animals does contribute to generating scientific knowledge that enables the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for humans. Afterward, clinical studies with humans are still necessary.

Can't we test directly on humans?

A significant portion of clinical research does involve patients or healthy volunteers. However, for invasive and exploratory research, it's more challenging, though not impossible. For example, VIB researchers collaborate with brain surgeons in university hospitals to recover brain tissue that is surgically removed (e.g., in epilepsy patients) for research purposes.

But, there are many practical, ethical, and scientific objections to conducting all research directly in humans. Unlike laboratory animals that live in controlled conditions and are often genetically modified to study the role of a specific protein or gene, this cannot be done with humans.

What breakthroughs do we owe to animal experiments?

Just look at the list of Nobel Prizes: animal experiments have played a crucial role in numerous medical breakthroughs. From HIV treatments to the development of aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer treatment, from insulin for diabetes treatment to the development of vaccines for polio, Ebola, or COVID-19... We also owe the existence of pacemakers and deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's treatment to animal research.

Read more in our Laboratory animals Facts Series