Consistent with the principles of the 3Rs in Animal Experimentation (Hubrecht and Carter, Animals (Basel) 2019, 9, 754) researchers are encouraged to explore alternative methods to the use of live animals in medical research and pre-clinical testing. In vitro or cell culture methods provide a way of reducing the number and replacing the use of live animals. Increasingly complex in vitro models are being proposed to support disease modelling and drug development. There is a clear need for validation of in vitro models to enable use across multiple sectors.

From the EURL ECVAM dataset on alternative methods to animal experimentation (DB-ALM) (https://data.jrc.ec.europa.eu/dataset/b7597ada-148d-4560-9079-ab0a5539cad3), in vitro or cell culture methods can be used for the following procedures:
- Cytotoxicity testing of chemicals and drugs
- Embryotoxicity testing - - - Developmental toxicology testing
- Absorption of substances across skin
- Skin sensitization testing
- Testing of irritants (yolk sac blood vessel assay)
- Testing of tumor promoters
- Pyrogenicity testing
- Metabolic stability testing
- Testing of carcinogenic potential of chemicals

In vitro and cell culture methods have the potential to be used as animal models of:
- Skin wound healing
- Neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s disease)
- Traumatic brain injury
- Lung development disease
- Heart disease
- Vascular disease
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Renal disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Pancreatic disease
- Infectious diseases
- Genetic diseases
- Cancer

We welcome submissions on emerging complex in vitro models which replace in vivo animal use with an emphasis on validation of these models to enable scale out into the community. The development, standardization and validation process of alternative in vitro methods has been reviewed in a recent publication (Bas A et al., Small 2021, e2006027).

Part of the "Future of MedTech" Research Topic series, this Research Topic aims to explore and showcase cutting-edge innovations that are poised to revolutionize healthcare and medical practices, as well as providing a future outlook on the field. Original Research, Reviews and Perspectives are all welcomed within this edition.

References:
1. Bas A, Burns N, Gulotta A, Junker J, Drasler B, Lehner R, Aicher L, Constant S, Petri-Fink A, Rothen-Rutishauser B. Understanding the Development, Standardization, and Validation Process of Alternative In Vitro Test Methods for Regulatory Approval from a Researcher Perspective. Small. 2021 Apr;17(15):e2006027.
2. Benam K, Dauth S, Hassell B, Herland A, Jain A, Jang K, Karalis K, Kim H, MacQueen L, Mahmoodian R et al., Engineered in vitro disease models. Annu Rev Pathol Mech Dis 2015, 10, 195-262.
3. Database on Alternative Methods to Animal Experimentation (DB-ALM) https://data.jrc.ec.europa.eu/dataset/b7597ada-148d-4560-9079-ab0a5539cad
4. Hubrecht R, Carter E, The 3Rs and human experimental technique: Implementing change. Animals 2019, 9, 754.
5. Loewa A, Feng J, Hedtrich S, Human disease models in drug development Nat Rev Bioengineering 2023, 1, 545-559.

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