(Cell) culture change: Replacing animal research

In the body, cells live in a complex environment surrounded by different types of cells, chemical signals and biological molecules. How can scientists mimic this in the lab to create cell-based models that replicate human biology? The Merry lab’s solution is to grow cells in a ‘water jelly’ called a hydrogel. Using hydrogels they can mimic the cellular environment of different tissues and organs in the lab and replace approaches that rely on animal-derived products.

Cigarette smoke and air pollution have driven increases in respiratory disease over the past 30 years. Research has relied on animal inhalation studies to understand the effect of these chemicals on the lungs. Nick is developing a 3D cell-based model as an alternative approach that combines four different types of cells found in the human lung. This will allow scientists to investigate how cell interactions and the immune system contribute to lung disease, without the use of animals.