As a foundation, Animal Free Research UK (formerly Dr. Hadwen Trust) finances medical research using animal-free methods. The Foundation has recently announced the successful completion of two projects.

With the wound healing model, developed by Dr. John Connelly from the Queen Mary University, lots of mouse experiments can be saved. His team investigated factors involved in the cell migration process and a following wound healing mechanism. For their model, the researchers used human keratinocytes and developed an image analysis protocol for the determination of the wound healing mechanisms. A cell labelling with antibodies from animals is not nessessary. The knowledge of these factors can lead an improved drug development.

At the University of Plymouth, Prof. Oliver Hanemann and his team examined the most common human tumors in a petri dish - the benign neurinoma and the meningioma, the latter arises from the cerebrum. Both tumors are able primarily to damage the peripheral nervous system. Objective of the investigations was to detect potential new drug candidates with the cell cultures. Chemotherapeutics used today are insufficient. The researchers compared the protein content in tumor cells with those of healthy cells and found quantitative differences. A drug candidate have to be effective against the tumor proteins by hindering of its cell proliferation without acting against the proteins of the healthy cells.

Sources and further information:
https://www.animalfreeresearchuk.org/wound-healing-high-throughput-analysis-of-synthetic-wound-healing-microenvironment
https://www.animalfreeresearchuk.org/brain-tumours-schwannomas-and-meningiomas