Tissue Engineered Models - their use in Toxicity Testing
Dr John Haycock, Reader in Bioengineering, Department of Engineering Materials, University of Sheffield

Over the past 10-15 years there has been tremendous development in 3D cell and tissue culture models predominantly for clinical purposes (e.g. in regenerative medicine). In the intervening period European legislation is banning the use of animals for testing purposes – in particular for cosmetics testing (since 2009).

There is therefore a need to use alternative models, however most alternatives are simple in vitro models with a high cost and (arguably) limited scientific information. Therefore can the use of 3D tissue engineered models serve a useful purpose as alternatives for animal testing?

In this session I'd like us to discuss what are the major barriers in developing such models and having them accepted by industries that would use them.