On Point | Podcast Is animal testing even needed anymore?
Jun 4, 2025
Donald Ingber, a pioneer in organ-on-a-chip technology, and Jenny Tam, an innovative researcher in synthetic biology, discuss the future of animal testing in biomedical research. They delve into new alternatives like organoids and AI-driven methods that could render traditional models obsolete. The conversation highlights the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, which aims to eliminate animal testing requirements, and explores ethical implications and financial considerations of adopting advanced drug testing technologies. Their insights shed light on the potential transformation of the pharmaceutical landscape.
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Organs-on-Chips Mimic Real Organs
- Organs-on-chips replicate key organ functions by mimicking cell structure and mechanical forces.
- This technology creates human-relevant models that surpass simple cell cultures for drug testing.
Liver Chip Outperforms Animal Tests
- A human liver chip was shown to predict drug toxicity in humans seven to eight times more effectively than animal models.
- This validates the promise of organ-on-chip technology to improve drug safety assessments.
Organoids Model Bipolar Disorder
- Dr. Jenny Tam uses organoids—tiny balls of stem cells—to mimic brain regions in bipolar disorder research.
- Using microelectrode arrays, her lab measures neural activity responses to drugs within these organoids.