News • From core to penumbra

‘Stroke-on-a-chip’ model to replace animal testing

The University of Strathclyde has been awarded £100,000 to fund a PhD studentship to help develop a human ‘stroke-on-a-chip’ model to replace animal testing in research.

If successful, the innovative model could significantly reduce reliance on animal models in stroke research by up to 1,000 animals each year across the UK.

The funding from NC3Rs, a UK-based scientific organisation that seeks to replace, refine and reduce (3Rs) the use of animals in research and testing, will support a PhD student to work on a 36-month project alongside Principal Investigator Dr Hilary Carswell and Co-Investigators Dr Michele Zagnoni and Professor Claire Gibson. Together, the team will adapt an in-house-developed microfluidics model to use human-derived stem cells instead of rodent cell cultures. Dr Carswell said: “This work is targeting the replacement of animals in in vitro stroke research, with the potential to gradually impact in vivo studies on stroke pathomechanisms and therapeutics. By introducing a human-based model we aim to produce results that are more predictive and translatable to clinical settings.”

Strathclyde’s bespoke stroke-on-a-chip model is uniquely designed to replicate the spatial and temporal gradients of oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) seen in vivo. This feature enables the model to simulate the progression of injury from the stroke ‘core’ to the ‘penumbra,’ providing critical insights into thresholds that affect neuronal viability, connectivity, and function. The multi-chamber microfluidics system also allows real-time quantitative analysis of cellular responses to tissue damage in the brain.

Thousands of prospective drugs have shown neuroprotective effects in animal stroke models but have failed in clinical trials. The humanised microfluidics model addresses this gap by better mimicking human pathophysiology, offering the dual benefit of sparing animal lives and improving the predictive value of preclinical stroke research.

The PhD student will focus on developing, validating, and applying the enhanced model which could become the preferred tool for stroke research, creating a lasting 3Rs legacy and fostering a shift towards more ethical and reliable research practices. The NC3Rs studentship programme also offers researchers bespoke training opportunities to build their expertise for future careers, complementing their scientific contributions.

The initiative is part of a broader effort to develop cutting-edge, non-animal technologies, including microphysiological systems and computational models. These innovations aim to address complex scientific questions while promoting sustainability and ethical research practices.

Interested candidates can apply for the PhD on the University’s website.

Source: University of Strathclyde

21.01.2025