Alternatives to animal testing sought at new research centre
Director says traditional models result in a very high failure rate
White mice and other animal test subjects might be an iconic part of the public’s image of a scientific laboratory — but it’s way past time for that to change, says University of Windsor researcher Dr. Charu Chandrasekera.
“Yes, we’ve used animals for decades — it’s not working,” Chandrasekera said. “When you have 95 per cent failure to translate from animal models to human clinical trials, there’s something wrong with the paradigm.”
A biochemist and molecular biologist, 42-year-old Chandrasekera is the founder and director of the university’s new Canadian Centre for Alternatives to Animal Methods.
Set to begin its work in earnest in October, the centre will put the University of Windsor on the forefront of developing, validating, and promoting biomedical research and education techniques that don’t use animals.
The idea behind the centre grew in Chandrasekera over the course of 17 years of experience in biomedical research focused on cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
She saw first-hand the low rate of congruence between animal test results and effectiveness on humans.
The final straw came for Chandrasekera after her father suffered a heart attack. She asked a leading professor on certain protein receptors about their usefulness to protect the human heart.
She was told there was no information on that: All the studies on those receptors had been done with the hearts of lab mice.
“This was a researcher who had worked on this for 20-some years. And he had never bothered to look at it on humans,” Chandrasekera said incredulously.
“It was the turning point for me. Why continue with this work if I’m not doing it for the benefit of human beings?”
Current scientific literature — as well as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration — agrees with Chandrasekera. She noted that the research communities of other countries around the world are already moving away from animal testing.
Canada, however, has lagged behind.
But if everyone realizes that animal testing is almost useless for research purposes, why has it been prevalent for so long?
“This is one of those questions. If you look at anything in human history, it’s very difficult to change long-standing paradigms,” Chandrasekera said. “The right of women to vote. The end of slavery. It’s always going to be a long, hard process.”
Chandrasekera said animal testing is so embedded in scientific culture that it’s frequently done for the purposes of fulfilling grant applications rather than any inherent research value.
“There is a mindset that we need to change.”
And change won’t happen unless there are real alternatives available. Chandrasekera said there have been groundbreaking advances in computer modelling, and work involving human cells and tissues.
One of the areas Chandrasekera intends to pursue further with the CCAAM is organoid modelling: using adult human stem cells to grow three-dimensional structures and create human organs in vitro.
“New technologies will soon replace the utility of animal models,” Chandrasekera promised.
The CCAAM’s laboratory is now in the process of being set up. Along with Chandrasekera, the centre’s core team will include a scientific director, Philip Karpowicz, and an academic director, Andrew Hubberstey.
Other University of Windsor faculty members from such diverse fields as biology, biochemistry, philosophy and ethics will also be involved in the centre.
Eventually, the centre will offer degree programs in animal replacement science.
Education is the key, Chandrasekera said.
“Our current paradigm is being ingrained into students. We want to get them to think outside of that cage. We want to teach them to think beyond animal models.”
The CCAAM plans on launching its first workshop Oct. 2-3.