Two-day meeting facilitates discussion on ways to reduce, replace and refine the use of animals in scientific advances. Scientists and stakeholders from the UK and Europe have gathered to discuss how to advance work on limiting the use of animals in scientific research.An event hosted by the Roslin Institute brought together researchers, funders, regulators and policy experts for a two-day event, featuring key talks that sought to define the state of the art, followed by panel-led discussions on opportunities, challenges and priorities in the field.Insightful talksThe symposium, entitled ‘Veterinary In Vitro Models: Current Landscape and Directions for the Future’, began with opening remarks by Professor Mark Stevens, Interim Director of the Roslin Institute. This was followed by talks from invited external speakers at Wageningen Bioveterinary Research Institute, Lelystad; University of Cambridge; Utrecht University; and the biotechnology company Emulate, each of whom discussed topical research from their own area of expertise.These ranged from the use of chicken or cow in vitro cell cultures to grow viruses that otherwise would have to be grown in a live animal, to intestinal organoids that revealed insights into parasites infecting human cells that would not be visible in a live patient. They also included personalised therapy in dogs suffering from rare genetic defects, in which patient-derived liver organoids were genetically modified to revert the mutation and transplanted back in the patient, and micro fluidic systems that could increase the complexity of in vitro cell culture by, for example, mimicking the blood flow around the organoid.A series of short presentations then highlighted research from the organising institutions: Moredun Research Institute, the Pirbright Institute, the Roslin Institute, and the Royal Veterinary College. Participants closed the day with a poster session and networking dinner. Stakeholder conversationsThe second day of the symposium focused on discourse among attendees, driven by panel discussions. The first of these considered the future of in vitro models, with input from panel members representing academic institutions. The second and final panel considered stakeholder perspectives, and included experts from the pharmaceutical industry, funders, government, and regulatory and advisory bodies.The two-day event was supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation. We’ve brought together researchers studying non-animal technologies to share their latest advances, to identify the challenges and limitations associated with such models and discuss these with a range of stakeholders. “It's been a really great event and I'm looking forward to picking up with attendees and wider collaborators in this field of study to see how we might work more cooperatively together in this area. Professor Mark Stevens, Interim Director of the Roslin Institute This was a very successful event, and participants were very engaged. It has raised many ideas for further consideration – such as the importance of targeted communications, and the need to continue fundamental science - animals are going to be a part of research for a long time to come.“For me it also underscores that to develop good, reliable, validated in vitro models, we need to know more about the biology of the animal each model comes from. And to do that, we need to dedicate time and funding. Professor Maria Forlenza, Professorial Group Leader in Immunology The Roslin Institute receives strategic investment funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and it is part of the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. Tags News Roslin Publication date 20 Apr, 2026
