Tissue reuse scheme expanding its reach
2 Feb 2017 by Evoluted New Media
The University of Leeds is leading a scheme to reduce the number of animals needed for biomedical research.
The University of Leeds is leading a scheme to reduce the number of animals needed for biomedical research.
Initially developed to enables breast cancer researchers across the world to search for remaining mouse tissue from previous experiments to use, there are now plans for expansion.
Professor Valeire Speirs, from the University of Leeds and project leader of SEARCHBreast, said: “As scientists, we are always looking for ways to reduce the number of live animals we use in research. SEARCHBreast brings together those who need animal tissue and those who are holding it in their archives.
Although a fraction of a tissues sample is needed for experiments, several mice are often required. The unused tissue is often stored away and not re-visited by the scientists. Since it launched in 2014, more than 200 scientists from across the world have signed up with almost 90 animal models are available, representing thousands of ready to use samples.
Professor Speirs, said: “Most scientists are willing to share this material on a collaborative basis, and it makes ethical, economic, and academic sense to do that. It serves the goals of the 3Rs - the Reduction, Replacement, and Refinement of the use of animals in biomedical research.”
SEARCHBreast is run in collaboration with the Barts Cancer Institute, the University of Sheffield and the Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute at the University of Glasgow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_1mDBjEHe4
