Slashing Test Animals: Is Thuringia’s Research Making a Dent in Animal Testing?
Ongoing use of animal testing in Thuringia's research studies - Thuringia's persistent use of animal experimentation in research.
Let's get real, animal testing is a heated topic - not just among the public, but researchers too. organizations like "Doctors against Animal Testing" are pressing for a complete ban. Even surplus animals bred for testing and rejected are criticized.
Expanding our horizons, Thuringia sunk nearly 41% - dropping from 6,498 to the previous year's count - in animal testing deaths according to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment. Germany-wide, an estimated 1.4 million test animals were put to death without use in 2023 - 22 percent less than the 2022 toll. But hey, Thuringia's drop is more significant than the national average!
Karl-Gunther Glowalla, responsible for animal welfare at the University Hospital and Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, is on board with reducing test animals. 8,728 out of the total 35,947 test animals used in Thuringia were at these two institutions. You guessed it - mice took the cake, making up a whopping 77 percent share, both in Jena and Thuringia overall. Things aren't just for mice, though. Sheep, pigs, and rats are also repping in Jena University Hospital's projects.
"Mini-organs" and digital models are two tactics to cut down on surplus animals, suggests Glowalla. Better breeding management and transferring excess animals to other institutions are some options, but Glowalla admits they're only temporary solutions. "We'll never completely eradicate animal testing," he warns. That is, when specific genetic attributes are crucial for research, not all bred test animals will meet the mark.
Now, "Doctors against Animal Testing" oppose this, arguing that suitable alternatives to animal testing already exist. Ute von der Gönna, spokesperson at the University Hospital Jena, agrees. They are experimenting with a three-dimensional skin model for simulating black skin cancer in tumor treatments, funded by the state. However, she adds, "In most cases, it's impossible to replace an animal test by examining an organ, because many questions require studying the whole organism."
Test animals, Thuringia, Animal testing, Jena, Erfurt, Germany, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena
Digging Deeper: Alternatives to Animal Testing in Jena
While specific alternative methods in Jena might differ, the region's focus on microbial biology and biochemical research lays the groundwork for developing alternatives to animal testing. Here are some standouts:
- Microbial Natural Products: Institutions like the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI) in Jena work on microbial natural product research and infection biology. This can lead to the discovery of compounds useful for drug development without extensive animal testing[1].
- Biochemical Approaches: Using biochemical methods, like enzymes and biological molecules, can help push the envelope on animal testing alternatives. For example, enzymes like PHL7 are employed in biological PET recycling, showcasing the potential for biological systems to replace traditional chemical processes[2].
- Chemical & Biological Systems: Studies on predator-prey relationships in microorganisms can offer insights into defense mechanisms, opening opportunities for discovering new drugs without the need for animal testing. Bacteria like P. syringae and their "chemical radar" system hold promise for uncovering bioactive compounds beneficial for human health and plant protection[4].
Moving Forward: Ongoing Research in Jena
- Funding & Collaborations: Collaborative projects like the Cluster of Excellence “Balance of the Microverse” and the ChemBioSys Collaborative Research Center, supported by organizations like the German Research Foundation and states including Thuringia, facilitate research into microbial interactions and bioactive compounds. These initiatives often involve collaborations leading to innovative methods reducing reliance on animal testing[4].
- State Support: Thuringia supports research through funding from the European Regional Development Fund (EFRE), which can be used to develop alternative testing methods by fostering research in microbiology and natural product research[4].
- In the ongoing discussion regarding animal testing, Thuringia's community policy aims to reduce the number of animals used in testing, as shown by the decrease from 6,498 in 2022 to 3,845 in 2023, according to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment.
- One sector leading alternative research in Thuringia is the University Hospital and Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, which, in 2023, used 8,728 test animals, predominantly mice, but also sheep, pigs, and rats, in their projects.
- To further reduce the dependence on animals in testing, Karl-Gunther Glowalla, responsible for animal welfare at the University Hospital and Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, suggests the use of "mini-organs" and digital models as alternatives, as well as better breeding management and transferring excess animals to other institutions.
- Employment policy in Thuringia's research sector revolves around the promotion of scientific advancements in the fields of microbial biology and biochemical research, which can lead to the discovery of alternative methods for drug development without extensive animal testing, such as the research conducted by the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI) in Jena.
