28 April 2018

The number of scientists using sophisticated human cell-based methods to study tuberculosis (TB) is increasing, improving understanding of this deadly disease and potentially reducing the number of animals used in TB research. That is the major finding of a recently published review in PLoS Pathogens by researchers from the Universidade do Porto supported with funding from the BioMed21 Collaboration as part of our “Roadmaps to Human Biology-Based Disease Research” program. This  program is designed to support independent reviews that consider the human relevance, translational success and limitations of conventional research models, and propose recommendations for optimizing the use of advanced, human-specific tools and approaches.

This review is the latest in a series of publications supported by HSI and HSUS with the intent of actively supporting the development of roadmaps for human disease research. By supporting critical reviews of how animals- are used to study important human diseases, we’re able to demonstrate how cutting-edge human-based models, such as those discussed in this review, can offer a deeper understanding of the human condition. [Read more…]