Alternative non-animal methods in biomedical research

Course description: Animal models are important in biomedical research, yet they do not fully recapitulate human development or diseases and can be expensive. Non-animal methods, often known as “in vitro” or “in silico”, aim to reduce and partly replace the use of animals in scientific experiments. Their use also promotes the 3R principles in research and has become increasingly important since the FDA no longer requires animal experiments prior to human drug trials and the European Union has issued a directive to end all laboratory experiments within the EU (Directive 2010/63/EU). The aim of the course is to give students a comprehensive overview of the different non-animal methods used in biomedical research, industry, and toxicology testing. The course will also showcase the latest technologies, including organ-on-chip, and findings from using alternative methods. Speakers from academia, industry, and regulatory bodies will discuss their work using alternative non-animal methods. The students will have the opportunity to present their scientific work and to meet the speaker for informal interactions. There will also be opportunities to visit local biomedical research companies to learn about their work on alternative methods in practice.

Credit points: 1-2 (1 ECTS for attendance at lectures; 2 ECTS for attendance at lectures, and a written report, a short summary of 1-2 lectures written after the course or a poster or presentation).

Course director: Šárka Lehtonen (UEF/AIVI), board member of Finnish 3R for replacement

Course co-organizers: Johanna Englund (UH), Jenni Hakkarainen (Experimentica), Virve Sihvola (ECHA)

Venue: Kuopio campus, Medistudia building, room MS301, Yliopistonrinne 3, Kuopio

DAY 1. (26.8.2024)
12.30 - 13.00 Registration
13.00 - 13.15 Welcome, practical matters and introduction of participants

SESSION 1. Basic science session (chairperson Šárka Lehtonen)

13.15 - 14.00 Plenary lecture Jonathan Curd (University of Nottingham, Co-founder & CEO PeptiMatrix): TBI
14.00 - 14.40 Coffee, exhibition and a poster session
14.40 - 15.10 Hanna Vuorenpää (Tampere University): In vitro models in replacing animal 
models -new era of Organ-on-Chip technology
15.10 - 15.40 Erdogan Pekcan Erkan (Tampere University): Imperfect, yet useful: modeling 
abdominal cancers with patient-derived tumor organoids
15.40 - 16.10 Maria Hytti (UEF) TBI
16.10 - 16.40 Prateek Singh (Founder & CEO Finnadvance): Open architecture microfluidics 
for scalable organ-on-chips
16.40 – 17.00 Meet the speakers

DAY 2. (27.8.2024)
SESSION 2. Regulatory bodies + Companies (chairperson Johanna Englund and Virve Sihvola)

09.00 - 09.45 Plenary lecture Sirpa Pietikäinen (Member of EPPA)
09.45 - 10.15 Elina Brusila (ECHA): Regulatory Application - Alternative methods to 
industrial chemicals
10.15 - 10.45 Coffee, exhibition and a poster session
10.45 - 11.15 Pauliina Lehtolainen-Dalkilic (FIMEA): Regulatory perspective update: how 
EMA and National Agencies are advancing 3Rs
11.15 - 11.45 Tony Kiuru (UPM): GrowDex – Animal-free option for automated 3D cell 
culture assays
11.45 - 11.55 Students' presentations
11.55 - 12.05 Students' presentations
12.05 - 12.15 Students' presentations
12.15 - 13.00 Lunch and exhibition

SESSION 3. Companies (chairperson Jenni Hakkarainen)
13.00 - 13.45 Plenary lecture Melina Malinen (ORION): Advancing Drug Discovery: Harnessing Human-Based Alternatives
13.45 - 13.55 Wrapping up the course
13.55 - 14.15 Coffee and exhibition
14.45 - 16:00 Visit to company 1 -Experimentica Ltd 2x30 min, 12+12 students
14.45 - 16:00 Visit to company 2 -Ferring VENTURE Oy 2x30, 12+12 students