A new collaboration between TNO, Proefdiervrij, and pharmaceutical company Galapagos, called MechPath, is accelerating the transition to animal-free drug development. By combining patient data, lab-based human cell models, and artificial intelligence, the MECHanistic PATHology (MechPath) approach allows researchers to identify patterns and make reliable predictions without relying on animal testing.
Key results so far:
Human cells used in lab models appear to retain a “disease memory,” continuing to respond as if they were still in the body, offering more realistic models for conditions like fibrosis.
The newly developed CELLS-PATH validation tools help lab-grown models gain approval faster, paving the way for wider adoption in drug research.
VarmX, a biotechnology company based at the Leiden Bio Science Park (LBSP), has entered into a strategic collaboration and option agreement with global biotechnology leader CSL...
Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), via its Cairelab initiative, together with the Dutch Police, have been declared winners of the National AI Challenge 2025, organized by...
Marieke Vinkenoog and Simon Christian Hansmann have been awarded the Krijn Rietveld Memorial Innovation Awards for their research in blood donation and colorectal cancer. Vinkenoog’s work on predictive modeling for donor eligibility and Hansmann’s identification of cancer cells linked to tumor recurrence exemplify the integration of advanced scientific methods to address pressing health challenges.