The television programme Hart van Nederland visited the Applied Stem Cell Technologies groep and spoke to prof. Kerensa Broersen, a member of the Organ-on-Chip Centre Twente core team. She is studying the fundamental biochemistry of cell to cell signaling between the brain and the intestine in relation to healthy physiology and disease. In the item she tells us about the use of organ-on-chips in her research.
See the Dutch item, including video, here: Dierproefvrije toekomst? Innovaties tonen potentieel maar er is nog werk aan de winkel | Hart van Nederland
The Dutch government aim to be a leader in animal-free innovations this year. This ambitious goal took shape with the launch of the Transition to Animal-Free Innovation (TPI) program in 2018. However, these promising techniques are often used as a supplement to animal testing rather than a replacement, says Debby Weijers, director of the Proefdiervrij Foundation. Researcher Kerensa Broersen of the University of Twente is working on innovative techniques that advance medical science. Her team is developing mini-organs from human cells, such as intestines and brains. These types of alternatives may be able to completely replace animal testing in the future.
