Dorothy Hegarty Award FRAME’s new Doctors
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Promoting nonanimal laboratory methods through better science
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Issue 75, Autumn 2015
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FRAME News
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Contents
From the Editor
3. New computer model for drug testing 4. 3D printing and the Three Rs 5. Household products test ban 6. Dorothy Hegarty Award 7. News from the FAL 8. PhD placements 9. Giftware Catalogue 11. Collaboration to find new non-animal test 12. News in brief 14. FRAME’s new DOCTORS 15. First FRAME Debate 16. charitable objectives
For many years extreme views have dominated discussions about the future of biomedical research. Advocates of animal-based experiments and antivivisectionists have stated their opposing cases in radical terms, apparently unable to find any middle ground. One of FRAME’s key roles is to stand in the middle ground to act as arbitrator between the sides. Developing and implementing effective non-animal methods is achievable, but will not be easy. Wasting time and energy arguing about the past and present state of research gains nothing. Collaboration is essential if progress is to be made towards the ultimate goal of total animal replacement. This issue of FRAME News includes many examples of such collaboration and some of the results the work is producing. On page 3 we describe a remarkable association of researchers, industry and regulators in the USA that is offering a computer-based replacement for drug testing on animals. On page 11 there are details of a project FRAME is working on with a company that has supported us for a long time. And on page 15 you can read about a debate FRAME arranged to get individuals and organisations from all perspectives in the animal testing question together to look for common ground on which to build a future for alternatives.
FRAME News 75, Autumn 2015 Published by: Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments Russell & Burch House 96-98 North Sherwood Street Nottingham NG1 4EE Registered charity number 259464 www.frame.org.uk Editor: Anne Jeffery E: anne@frame.org.uk Alternatives to Laboratory Animals (ATLA) www.atla.org.uk Perspectives in Laboratory Animal Science (PiLAS) www.pilas.org.uk 2 | FRAME News 75, Autumn 2015
In among those articles there are many examples of the work that FRAME does to promote the cause of non-animal laboratory methods and better science. For example, on page 5 you can read news of FRAME’s advisory role in the new household products testing ban. - Anne Jeffery (FRAME News Editor)
New computer model to replace animal-based drug tests One of the reasons potential new drugs fail in late stage trials is that animal tests do not always identify aspects of toxicity in humans. An adverse side effect that animal tests regularly miss is drug induced liver disease (known as DILI). In spite of the failure, regulatory guidelines still insist on animal safety studies because no alternative methods have been validated. Tests must take place in two different animal species, usually a rodent and further tests using dogs. Now FRAME is acting as scientific advisor to a new collaboration in the United States that is looking at a computer model to predict DILI, and replace animal-based tests. The DILIsim Initiative is a public private partnership, with a core of seven full time modellers and two post doctoral students, based at the Hamner Institutes in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. It is supported by 14 major pharmaceutical companies and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). From the start the group set a goal of reducing, and ultimately replacing animal tests for DILI prediction. Now in its fourth year, the initiative has succeeded in developing a computational model that predicts DILI caused by new drug candidates at all stages of development. One limitation of animal tests is that they cannot pick up the variability in human reactions to drugs. The DILIsim model includes more than 550 variables and integrates data on mechanisms of liver injury gathered from human cells. It has already been used successfully to predict potentially harmful effects. Graduate student Kyunghee Yang at University of North Carolina demonstrated that the model correctly predicted troglitazone is toxic in humans but not rodents. The drug was withdrawn after rare, but serious, DILI occurred during human trials. FRAME Scientific Director Dr Gerry Kenna said:
Animal safety studies fail to predict many drug toxicities that arise in humans and can result in serious ill health, or even death. “I believe that the DILIsim Initiative has been a remarkably successful public private partnership, which will lead the way towards regulatory acceptance of in silico models that predict drug toxicities beyond the liver and will result in dramatic replacement of animal use.�
FRAME News 75, Autumn 2015 | 3
3D printing helping bioscience NecropSynth is a nonprofit startup aiming to replace traditional classroom dissections with 3D-printed synthetic specimens. Printed animals will provide an ethical alternative, comparable dissection experience, including different textures, and be anatomically correct down to a hundred microns level. Its flagship project is synthDawley, a 3D-printed rat, modelled on the main laboratory rat line, Sprague Dawley™. The company has already printed the outer shell and body, and designed the heart and lungs, ready to print them inside it. Anatomy information comes from The Anatomy of the Rat, written by Eunice Chace Greene, and from experience the company’s lead designer gained from years of necropsy studies. The plan is to release the design and print files for free, so any school with a 3D-printer can print their own synthetic rats. The company is also considering printing them at cost for those who don’t have access to a printer. Co-founder Tara Whittle said: “Anatomy is the backbone of biology and modern scientific theory, and hands-on dissections are one of the best ways to learn about organism structure and function. The UK began to phase out dissections about 30 years ago, but concerns have been raised over the lack of practical lab experience. So new A-level science standards are bringing traditional dissection back to the classroom. However, there are considerable concerns, ranging from the ethics of animal sacrifice to student psychological health.”
“The benefits of a synthetic specimen are numerous: more ethical (animals need not be collected and killed), safer (no preservation chemicals), more cost effective, and provides a more standardised educational experience (no surprises with pregnancy, cysts or tumours; teachers will know exactly what to expect). Our goal is to have a full prototype of synthDawley by the end of the year, but our biggest challenges are time and money, as we’re both currently employed and are self-funding.”
3D Printing at the FRAME Alternatives Laboratory Scientists at FRAME are using 3D printing to construct human liver tissue in the lab. Pritesh Mistry, a PhD student funded by the EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council), is attempting to print human liver cells and blood vessels onto biomaterial compounds to give the tissue its own circulatory system, just as it has in the body. Pritesh has successfully printed cells onto tissue culture surfaces and is now screening individual biopolymers to find the best material for cells to grow on. In the future we hope to be able to combine a mini-liver project (described on page 7) with 3D printing to enable production of organoids using liver progenitor cells.
Currently, the range of education is often decided by the amount of funding a school has, so traditional dissection is often cut from curricula as too expensive. Tara said: “We believe that students’ socioeconomic status shouldn’t determine the quality of their educational opportunity. NecropSynth hopes to help bridge the gap by providing a cost effective alternative.” Traditional dissection specimens cost at least £5, plus additional supplies and biohazard disposal costs. A synthetic synthDawley rat will cost about £1.30.
Tara with husband, co-founder Bart Taylor, and their daughter Maribel Whittle-Taylor 4 | FRAME News 75, Autumn 2015
Household products: new UK animal test ban
The UK Government is due to introduce a policy ban on testing household products on animals, with effect from October. Although testing will not be illegal, the Home Office has said it will not normally grant licences to laboratories for the purpose. The ban is the first policy of its kind and it is hoped it will lead the way for other countries to follow. It refers to finished household products and ingredients and for the first time offers definitions. Finished household products are ‘bought by the general public for use in the domestic home and garden. They include, but are not limited to, detergents, polishes and cleaning products, laundry products, household cleaners, air fresheners, toilet cleaners, descalants, deodorisers, adhesives, paints and varnishes, sealants, caulks and other decorating materials’. A household product ingredient is one which ‘at the time that testing in animals is carried out, more than fifty percent is intended or expected to be used in a household product’. There are three main parts to the policy: 1. T esting finished household products will not be allowed at all. 2. W here ingredient testing is required by another regulation it will be allowed, but use of animals must be reported to the Home Office within 30 days, including details of the number and species used, and details of the regulation under which the testing must be done.
Dr Michelle Hudson-Shore represents FRAME on the Home Office Animal Welfare Stakeholder Group. She said:
“The policy is regarded by some as not going far enough because it does not completely ban ingredients tests, but it is an important step forward. By taking this approach the Home Office aims to minimise this type of testing while avoiding forcing it abroad to countries where welfare standards may not be as high.” The change will also allow the Home Office to collect and publish previously unavailable information. Increased knowledge will present opportunities to challenge regulations and encourage innovation and investment in non-animal alternatives that could have implications beyond household products. FRAME took part in consultation before the policy ban and submitted comments on the draft Advice Note. Michelle said: “FRAME welcomes the ban and believes the approach will help maximise implementation of the Three Rs in this field. Our comments to the Home Office reiterated the importance of publishing the information gathered regarding regulatory requirements. We also suggested that they make it clear that a project licence to do animal experiments must be in place even when the ingredients tests are allowed. Researchers cannot just do the tests and then report them.
“Engaging with all stakeholders can be a productive and effective way to develop and implement progressive regulatory changes in conjunction with the people they aim to regulate. Other countries who are looking to ban animal tests for various purposes could adopt this approach to smooth the shift towards adopting non-animal methods.”
3. I f a laboratory wishes to do ingredient tests not required by other regulations they must apply for a licence, and provide strong justification. The application may be referred to other bodies before a decision is made. If the test is allowed a report must be sent to the Home Office afterwards, detailing things such as the number of animals used and the severity experienced by each animal. FRAME News 75, Autumn 2015 | 5
Dorothy Hegarty Award Winners The winners of this year's Dorothy Hegarty Award are trying to find funding to move their research on to the next stage…
Zhuo Li, Ka Yee Lok and Changhe Yu (Bio S&T, Montreal, Canada), and Tong Guo (Goodman Institute of Investment Management, John Molson School of Business, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada), hope their findings on the causes of lung fibrosis will eventually lead to development of effective drugs for its treatment. Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive and irreversible disorder that currently has no cure. It affects the inner surface of the lung, scarring the cells that line the air sacs. It causes shortness of breath, particularly during physical activity, and a persistent dry cough. It is progressive and often fatal. The winning paper, Lung fibrosis: Drug screening and disease biomarker identification with a lung slice culture model and subtracted cDNA library, described how the team used the lung samples to assess the ability of various substances to inhibit fibrosis formation. It can be found at ATLA 42, pp. 235–243. Lead author Zhuo Li said: "The protocol has been commercialised and tested with drug discovery groups in Biopharma, but development of the technology has been lagged by lack of funding. If we have enough funding, we could focus more on finding new genes that are directly related to the formation of lung fibrosis and eventually lead to developing effective drugs. We feel so unfortunate that we could not do more about this.” The Award is judged by the Editorial Board of FRAME's peer-reviewed journal ATLA (Alternatives to Laboratory Animals) and presented to the authors of the paper from the previous year that is likely to make the most significant contribution to the Reduction, Refinement and/or Replacement of animal experimentation. It is named after FRAME's founder Mrs Dorothy Hegarty who, with biologist Charles Foister, set out to promote the Three Rs, Reduction, Refinement and in particular Replacement, of animal experimentation.
6 | FRAME News 75, Autumn 2015
News from the FAL
Organoid growth from day 4 to day 8
Growing mini livers in the Lab The FRAME Alternatives Laboratory has a long track record of using primary human cells as a means for replacing the use of animals, but the lack of suitable human tissue meant that the cell models of human liver developed in the FRAME laboratory will never see widespread use, because there is simply not enough human liver tissue available. A new project at the FAL aims to address this issue by growing mini human livers (organoids) in the lab. The project is led by Dr Rachael Ivatt, who completed her PhD at Sheffield University and worked briefly in industry before joining FRAME. She is leading a team that includes PhD student Fatima Abukunna and FRAME technicians Nikki De Vivo and Monika Owen. The liver is unique among major human organs in that it can regenerate itself after injury, so for many years scientists have known that there are cells present in human liver that are capable of dividing and producing new liver cells. Earlier this year, a paper published in the journal Cell described the identification and isolation of these cells, known as human hepatic progenitor cells. The unique property of these particular cells is that they can be isolated from human liver, and their numbers massively increased, before being differentiated into functional liver cells. This allows many millions of cells to be produced from a relatively small piece of tissue, dramatically increasing the amount of material available for research. These progenitor cells can also be grown as three-dimensional organoids, much more closely representing human liver tissue than cells grown in a dish. Rachael and her team are developing this technology to allow the maximum number of progenitor cells to be produced and ensuring that the resulting mini livers reflect the human liver as it behaves in the body. In this way FRAME aims to develop a source of human liver cells that will be sufficient to allow scientists in industry and academia to adopt their use.
Dr Andy Bennett, Director of the FRAME Alternatives Laboratory said:
Developing improved in vitro models of human liver physiology and biology continues to be a major theme of the FAL. Liver toxicity is caused by many different chemicals and medicines and is an important cause of human ill health. Damage to the liver is important. Unwanted metabolic side effects of obesity and the current UK obesity epidemic has meant that liver injury is now one of the leading causes of illness in the population. "The improved human liver cell models being developed by the FAL are providing new insight into precisely how obesity causes liver damage and helping devise and test ways in which the problem can be treated. The FAL’s work is also providing new assays that can help reduce the need for animal procedures when evaluating human safety of chemicals and new medicines.�
FRAME News 75, Autumn 2015 | 7
PhD students from the University of Nottingham have been spending threemonth placements at the FRAME office to carry out a variety of projects…
The internships are part of the NottinghamRothamsted Doctoral Training Partnership. Called ‘PIP’ – Professional Internship for PhD students – the stays are part of a scheme funded by the BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council). The idea is to provide doctoral candidates with the opportunity to complete a stand-alone project, linked to, but not directly part of, their PhD work. During the project they gain experience of working in a non-academic, non-laboratory environment.
Rehma Chandaria
20-something, North London My Degree: PhD in Tissue Engineering. Basically, growing gut cells on various 3-dimensional scaffolds to see how they react.
Andy Cooper 25, Cornwall
My Degree: A PhD in Neuroscience, looking into the way our experience of pain and the effect of painkillers changes during postnatal development. Three words that describe me: Inquisitive, friendly, eclectic. My project is... Designing a database and search engine containing everything FRAME has published.
Three words that describe me: Open-minded, thoughtful, genial My project is... A survey of scientists working with animals asking for their views and reasons for using animals. Also other things such as writing about science topics for non-experts. My project will... Raise awareness of FRAME whilst finding out why animals are still needed in science, and the practical problems with current alternatives.
My project will... Help FRAME answer questions and access the information they need to drive alternatives research forwards.
What has FRAME done for me? Given me freedom and support to explore different skills, and an opportunity to try out a different work environment outside the lab.
What has FRAME done for me? Given me a deeper insight into the 3 Rs and the alternatives movement, which I will take back to the lab and will influence my future research.
What's next? Finish my PhD, then who knows? The world is my oyster! Moving on to a career in research.
What's next? Returning to the lab for the final sprint towards finishing my PhD, then hopefully moving on to a career in research.
8 | FRAME News 75, Autumn 2015
FRIENDS OF FRAME giftware Friends of FRAME is the group for FRAME supporters who help us through regular donations and by spreading the word about FRAME’s work. They are individuals who believe in what we stand for and the way we go about promoting the end of animal experiments. We could not continue our vital work without the support of people like them and we are always grateful for their help.
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FRAME News 75, Autumn 2015 | 9
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FRAME 96-98 North Sherwood Street Nottingham NG1 4EE 10 | FRAME News 75, Autumn 2015
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Collaboration to find new non-animal tests In spite of EU legislation forbidding cosmetic product and ingredient testing on animals since 2013, some laws still call for such tests to take place. For example the REACH Guidelines (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of CHemicals) still advocate animal testing for certain areas such as safety screening or quality assurance. FRAME is involved in a collaboration with two Cheshire-based companies, XCellR8 labs and Inventya, and the cosmetic producer Lush, to develop a new test that will provide an acceptable alternative to existing methods, including the archaic and cruel LD50 test. The alternative being developed is a human-cell based, in vitro test, which incorporates the EU validated Neutral Red Uptake (NRU) assay with human keratinocyte cells. The assay provides a highly useful acute toxicity test not only to replace the need for animals, but provide better and more applicable results for humans. The first NRU assay was developed using mouse cells, but by using human cells, the group is maximising the potential for non-animal alternatives. Successful initial rounds of the test have already been run to determine its capabilities. The next stage is to expand on the results by determining the potential for measuring acute toxicity in 20 common cosmetics ingredients. The ultimate goal is to develop a method that is relevant, reliable, and reproducible by labs all over the world. Establishing OECD validation is a crucial step in ensuring the test’s acceptance. This would provide substantial benefits for many research areas, but replacing the need for animals in a multitude of prediction tests will be paramount.
– Original NRU assay. Photo courtesy of IIVS.
Stay up to date with the project’s progression by following our twitter account @FRAME_Science, as well as keeping an eye out for updates in the next issue of FRAME news. FRAME News 75, Autumn 2015 | 11
news in brief
Supporting Brazilian science FRAME has begun a campaign to translate many of its key publications into Portuguese to meet an increasing demand from scientists in Brazil. The country has one of the fastest growing economies in the world and its industries are responding rapidly to changes that are happening elsewhere, particularly in laboratory animal science. Brazil ranks eighth out of 103 countries registered by the FRAME website visitor counter. In response to a direct request, FRAME began by translating its Strategic Planning Chart for Reducing Animal Use in Biomedical Science. The chart, which is designed to be displayed in laboratories, was already available in French, German, Italian, and Spanish, as well as English. It outlines steps to follow when setting up a research project, taking account of both ethical considerations and experimental practicalities. The Portuguese chart was well received and so it was decided to extend the translations to the FRAME website. FRAME is now consulting with other researchers to discover what information would be most valuable for future translations.
The Portugese Pages online Everyone can drive change Professor Michael Balls
12 | FRAME News 75, Autumn 2015
Only last year the Brazilian government announced restrictions on use of animals for cosmetics testing, but there is still concern over the numbers used for other purposes. In 2010 FRAME published a paper in its journal ATLA (Alternatives to Laboratory Animals) detailing animal experimentation figures in Brazil. The paper highlighted use of almost 3.5 million animals a year. The authors concluded:
Brazil is an important contributor to the vast numbers of animals used in research worldwide. Most of the animals used were subjected to only minor suffering. However, thousands of vertebrate animals were subjected to procedures associated with higher degrees of suffering.” Paper: Vanessa Carli Bones Silla, Elaine Cristina de Oliveira Sans and Carla Forte Maiolino Molento. An Estimation of the Extent of Animal Use in Research in Brazil, as Determined by Bibliographic Sampling from Journals Published in the State of Paraná. ATLA 38, 29–37, 2010
Life President receives Björn Ekwall Memorial Award FRAME Life President Professor Michael Balls has been given the Björn Ekwall Memorial Award in recognition of his lifetime’s work promoting the Three Rs. The citation says: “The Award is presented in recognition of his pioneering work in promoting animal welfare and alternatives to animal testing. Professor Balls has significantly contributed to the field of in vitro toxicology by promoting the use of non-animal tests to replace and reduce animal experiments.” Michael Balls became a Trustee of FRAME in 1979 and, two years later, was elected to Chairman. Under his leadership FRAME grew into one of the leading organisations in the world for promoting good science and valid alternatives to animal-based experiments. FRAME was one of the driving forces behind the 1986 Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act, which has been the template for similar legislation worldwide. It was also one of the first organisations to publish a peer-reviewed journal specifically to cover alternative methods. Professor Balls is still managing editor of ATLA (Alternatives to Laboratory Animals).
Change drivers: a FRAME survey FRAME recently carried out a survey to discover what the general public believes will drive change towards non-animal methods. People were asked: "In spite of campaigns by many bodies and individuals for an end to animal experimentation, the numbers used in procedures in UK laboratories continue to rise. If a change is to happen there must be a driver behind it. What do you consider to be the main driver that will bring change?" Three possible answers were given: public opinion, government legislation, or institutions and organisations. They came out approximately equal, with institutions slightly ahead at 37% and the government slightly behind at 30%. Responders were also able to offer comments.
The Award will be presented at a workshop of the Scandinavian Society for Cell Toxicology (SSCT) and the Swedish Toxicology Sciences Research Center (SweTox), in Bommersvik, Sweden. It is awarded in memory of Swedish researcher Björn Ekwall by recognising scientists who have substantially contributed to the field of animalfree safety testing. FRAME Trustee Dr Richard Clothier received the award in 2010 for his outstanding contributions in the field of in vitro toxicology. FRAME Scientific Director Dr Gerry Kenna said: “We are delighted that FRAME has been recognised for the second time by this prestigious organisation.”
"Only government legislation can make the change happen because if there is no law, laboratories will do as they please. But public opinion, institutions and organisations have their responsibilities to push the government to do so. Everyone has responsibility to bring the change." "Awareness of the issue among the general public needs to improve, which will in turn put pressure on legislation formers." "Guidance must come from the regulatory authorities on the application of alternative methods, and public and private organisations should share and work together on the Three Rs."
FRAME News 75, Autumn 2015 | 13
FRAME’s new doctors "For centuries, animal experimentation has stimulated lively debate. Non-human primate use provokes especially passionate and opposing exchanges, which has created an impasse preventing the exploration of if and how primate use could be ended. The limited scholarly investigation of the animal experimentation debate to date has not narrowed the extreme polarisation of the issue. My PhD project aimed to expand knowledge in this area and explore it from a novel perspective. I hoped it would offer insight into how the deadlock might be overcome. "I carried out two contrasting case studies by interviewing both primate, and non-primate, users in schistosomiasis and Parkinson's disease research. I found some interesting areas of consensus and important differences in the justifications given by different users, and between the two fields of research. "My key finding was the recognition of the fundamental role that social dynamics of science play in explaining why the primate impasse persists. I looked at the social themes and theoretical perspectives that can help understand and explain how and why science is conducted in the manner that it is; namely competition and reputation, expectations, core sets and publications, entrenchment and policy, and ethics and speciesism. Dr Michelle Hudson-Shore
Four researchers connected to FRAME have recently been awarded PhDs after successfully completing their theses, earning them the right to use the title Doctor. FRAME Scientific Programme Manager Michelle Hudson-Shore’s thesis examined scientists’ attitudes to using non-human primates in research. Her research supports FRAME's stance on the use of monkeys in laboratories. FRAME is deeply concerned about increasing numbers of experimental procedures carried out on primates. For various reasons their use is questionable at best. Their very social nature and complex behavioural habits mean their lives are more disrupted by the conditions they experience in labs. Their high intelligence levels also make it likely that they can comprehend at least some of what is done to them. Dr Hudson-Shore's thesis looked at attitudes to primate use to find what drives researchers to choose them, and what obstacles might be encountered in any campaigns to change opinions. What she found offers some hope for an end to primate-based research. Here she explains how she went about it, and outlines her conclusions.
14 | FRAME News 75, Autumn 2015
"I concluded that, in certain circumstances, the impasse can be overcome. Change will require improved collaboration and communication between the various stakeholders, and new approaches to alternative research practices, and science communication."
New PhDs at the FAL Three students from the FAL have also been awarded PhDs. Dr Jerusalem Alleyne completed her thesis “Investigation into the anti-inflammatory activity of PXR and the minor isoform PXR3” and stayed on to work as a research associate for a further six months, but has now returned to her native Trinidad to spread the Three Rs message. Dr Salima Hawda successfully defended her thesis “Changes in human PPAR alpha activity via posttranslational modification” and also remained with FRAME as a research associate until moving to take up an academic post at the Al Arab University in Benghazi, Libya. Dr Luting Xu completed her PhD thesis “TRPVI signalling in osteoclastogenesis and the role of osteoclasts in pain in osteoarthritis” and has now moved to Nottingham City Hospital Department of Orthopaedic Surgery to continue her clinical career.
First FRAME Debate
Participants in a debate staged by FRAME concluded: “Total animal replacement in human medicine is a realistic goal but it’s a difficult challenge and it’s going to be a long-term goal.” The debate was held in place of FRAME's usual annual lecture, which had to be deferred because of relocation of its venue, The Kennel Club in London. The debate gathered individuals and organisations from all perspectives on the question of alternatives to animal testing with the aim of finding common ground as a basis for progress. Discussion was lively, and covered a wide range of topics including legal aspects of animal-based research, routes to developing alternatives, reliability of current animal models, ethical questions, progress in introducing human-based tests, challenges faced in introducing replacement. It also considered social and cultural hurdles, attitudes of various groups involved in biomedical research, and the timescales that might be needed to achieve total replacement. The debate agreed that achieving full replacement of animals will take time and effort and will not take place without co-operation. Wasting time and energy on arguing about the current situation will gain nothing. The speakers were: Professor Barbara Pierscionek, Associate Dean of Research and Enterprise at Kingston University’s Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing; Dr Bob Coleman, Independent Drug Discovery Consultant; Dr Brett Cochrane, Group Head of Science at Dr Hadwen Trust; and Dr Brian Burlinson, VP Safety Assessment and Principal Scientist, Huntingdon Life Sciences.
Top: The debate in action. Above: Clockwise from top left– Professor Barbara Pierscionek, Dr Bob Coleman, Dr Brian Burlinson, Dr Brett Cochrane.
A video of the debate is available on FRAME's YouTube channel by searching for 2015 FRAME Debate, and the proceedings will be published in a future edition of ATLA, FRAME's scientific journal.
FRAME News 75, Autumn 2015 | 15
The importance of collaboration The charitable objectives of FRAME include: To promote or assist in the provision of research into acceptable new techniques and substitutes for the use of animals in medical, biological, pharmaceutical and other associated researches and to promote the publication and dissemination of the results of such research.
The words “or assist in” are particularly important. No single organisation will bring about the changes necessary to end the use of animals in laboratories. Collaboration is vital to the success of the campaign. The dictionary definition of collaboration is: “A joint effort of multiple individuals or work groups to accomplish a task or project.” FRAME’s determination to maintain a stance as a primarily scientific organisation means it is driven by research findings, rather than opinion, and it is able to put forward ethically sound, scientifically justifiable points of view. It is therefore recognised and respected internationally, and in a pivotal position unavailable to groups with more polarised opinions. As a result it can work with scientists at the forefront of non-animal research, but still be taken seriously by those who carry out animal-based research. FRAME supports the development of new and valid nonanimal research methods by building collaborations with stakeholders from all relevant industries, regulatory agencies and academic scientists, enabling new non-animal methods to be validated and implemented. FRAME Director Dr Gerry Kenna said:
Although we in FRAME are proud of our expertise and our internal capability, we appreciate that we are just a very small part of a large global community. We can achieve much more by working closely with others who share our vision and goals than we can by working in isolation. “In particular, we need to work closely with scientists in industry, academia and regulatory agencies to ensure that suitable non-animal methods are developed and validated, then are used. Therefore collaborations are a very important way in which we work to replace, reduce and refine animal procedures.”