Understanding Animal Research

A question left unanswered for 40 years has now been answered, helping scientists better understand muscular disorders - thanks to zebrafish. In a new study from the University of Oregon in the US, researchers discovered how bioelectricity - the way nerve and muscle cells communicate - shapes muscle development. The study identified specific genes responsible for this process and what happens when things goes wrong, thus offering insight into the genetic origins of muscular disorders. Zebrafish are a great model studying electrical communication due to their transparent embryos, allowing for real-time imaging of electrical signaling between cells. These findings significantly inform our current understanding of muscle development in humans, as we now know that in certain muscular disorders, faulty gap junction channels might be a cause - a link that was previously unknown. "This is something many of us have wondered about for many, many years—and now we've figured it out," said Judith Eisen (in an interview with phys.org). Eisen is one of the neuroscientists behind the paper who first noticed a strange cellular communication pattern in a zebrafish that couldn't move its tail properly back in the 1980s; an observation that would lead to this discovery. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/e9ZvvMSW #MuscularDisorders #MuscleDisorder #MuscularAtrophy #NewResearch #AnimalsinResearch #FishinResearch #AnimalResearch #BiomedicalResearch #ScienceDiscovery #NewScience

Join us next Thursday for a lunchtime webinar on communicating animal research on websites! In this webinar, we will discuss how to communicate animal research and engage lay audiences via institutional websites. Hannah Hobson, Head of Communications and Engagement for UAR will be joined by Mike Addelman, Animal Research Communications Lead at the The University of Manchester to offer advice, share good practice examples, and answer questions. The webinar is open to anyone who is developing website content about the use of animals in research, whether your organisation carries out research, funds it or supports it in another way. Register here and we'll see you soon! https://lnkd.in/gDg4NHc6 #CommunicatingAnimalResearch #Communications #Websites #WebsiteDesign #ScienceCommunication #CommunicatingResearch

We've launched BARN: The Biomedical & Animal Research News Digest! BARN Digest is a news feed that gathers the latest research and major breakthroughs in human and animal health from the UK and beyond. The feed contains news directly from our UAR members and Concordat Signatories, including universities like the University of Oxford and Imperial College London, as well as major news outlets from the UK. BARN will be updated every morning. Check it out today! https://lnkd.in/ekibCzdj #AnimalsinResearch #3Rs #MiceinResearch #NonAnimalModels #ReplacementTechnology #BioTech #BiomedicalResearch #AnimalResearch #MedicalInnovations #Medicine #BreakthroughTreatments

An MBE was awarded to sara wells, Chief Biological Research Facility Officer at the Francis Crick Institute, Director of the Mary Lyon Centre, MRC Harwell, and Director of the MRC Centre for Macaques. Sara is a long-term friend and supporter of UAR and a dedicated advocate for humane animal research in her own right. She has been recognised for her huge contribution to preclinical medical studies in a career largely dedicated to improving the science of genetically modified mice. Her commitment to the improvement of laboratory animal welfare has been a constant of her career, not least in her work with UAR, including becoming the face of the Mary Lyon Centre, MRC Harwell virtual animal facility tour. Sara’s scientific excellence, personal integrity and unwavering enthusiasm have made her a model for the animal welfare and biomedical research sectors and UAR extends our congratulations for this well-deserved award. Read here: https://lnkd.in/eAjNTadF #AnimalWelfare #AnimalResearch #MedicalResearch

What has the Labour Party said about animal testing? The Labour Party has recently taken an interest in animals in science and recent developments in Non-Animal Technologies (NATs) and New-Approach Methodologies (NAMs). The party launched a manifesto on 13 June that states: “We will partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing.” On 7 June, the Mirror newspaper reported that, “The party will promise to publish a roadmap to end the use of animals in the scientific testing of products. In the first year of a Labour government, a board of experts will be tasked with coming up with the plan to phase out the use of dogs, minipigs and rabbits in testing. This will include an end to medical testing when scientific alternatives allow.” To find out more, like what the chances of success are for this developing policy and what else you should know about it, read our new article: https://lnkd.in/e-KKZKpg #AnimalResearch #AnimalTesting #BiomedicalResearch #MiceinResearch #ScientificResearch #AnimalModels

The ART Award virtual Award Ceremony and Conference will be held on the 8th of July! The awardees will present their projects and results, and invited keynote speakers will share their expertise in the 3Rs and science communication. All young life scientist organisations along with individuals who are interested in the 3Rs and science communication are encouraged to attend this virtual event! Registration is now open: https://lnkd.in/esgFtn9C #ARTAwards #AnimalResearch

Imperial College London recently launched its renewed Culture of Care strategy to guide the next ten years of animal research. This new framework will guide continued implementation of the 3Rs - replacement, reduction and refinement of the use of animals - as well as set an example of scientific excellence, ensuring that all animals are treated with the highest level of care and that the research is conducted to the highest global standards. “As a world-leading medical research institution, animal research forms a small but vital part of Imperial’s biomedical research programme. It is important that we talk about how animal studies are conducted and regulated clearly and openly, to show how this work contributes to medical advances and to dispel misconceptions," shares Professor Mary Ryan, Imperial's Establishment Licence Holder, in an interview with Imperial. “Looking back over the last decade, I am particularly pleased to see that the Imperial Animal Research community continues to lead the way for openness and transparency.” Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/ezDgB8UP #AnimalsinResearch #3Rs #BiomedicalResearch #MiceinResearch #ResearchSavesLives

Have you ever wondered exactly how medicines are made? Check out this great informative video from the Foundation for Biomedical Research in the US: https://lnkd.in/ec-ZNN-3 #Medicine #BiomedicalResearch #DrugTesting #Pharmaceuticals

The University of Cambridge recently shared a video highlighting the indispensable role of animal technicians, who provide care to animals involved in research. "It's quite often that you see studies that relate to people in your personal life who may suffer with some of these different things; this gives me the drive to provide the highest level of treatment to the animals that I can." - Kaya, University of Cambridge Animal Technician Watch here: https://ow.ly/itl750Se92T #AnimalsinResearch #BiomedicalResearch

Scientists at the University of Sydney in Australia have developed a nanotechnology that could allow people with diabetes to take oral insulin medication instead of injections. The nano insulin was tested in mice, rats and baboons and was able to control blood glucose levels without hypoglycaemia or weight gain, and there was also no toxicity. The mice, rat and baboon programmes were approved by the Animal Welfare Committee of the Sydney Local Health District (SLHD) and was performed in accordance with the ‘Australian Code of Practice for the care and use of animals for scientific research’ (2013, updated 2021). Care and use of primates was in accord with the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council’s ‘Principles and guidelines for the care and use of non-human primates for scientific purposes’ (2016). Around 422 million people worldwide have diabetes and nearly 75 million of these inject themselves daily with insulin. This new technology could help those with diabetes avoid side effects from injections, such as hypoglycaemia. Human trials are expected to start in 2025. Full story: https://lnkd.in/ebjQTT-K #Diabetes #DiabetesResearch #Insulin #AnimalsInResearch #MedicalReseearch #NewScience