Transition to Animal-free Innovations
Things are moving now, and Utrecht is well positioned to lead this movement.
TPI Utrecht is an interdisciplinary group, working on the transition towards animal-free innovations. We offer practical support. We have a helpdesk by which we can connect you to experts to answer your questions. We also organise helpathons. These are interdisciplinary creative workshops to find or develop animal-free methods to answer a specific research question. We also promote and further develop existing solutions using the power of our Life Sciences hubs. Together with you we strive for top quality: innovations must continue to guarantee and improve the quality of scientific research and education.
TPI Utrecht
TPI Helpdesk
The TPI Helpdesk can help you with any questions concerning the transition towards animal-free innovations in research and education. If you contact us, we will bring you into contact with one of the members listed underneath who has the most relevant knowledge, experience and/or network.
Examples of questions for the TPI Helpdesk:
Where can I find the right people to collaborate on my idea for an innovation?
Where can I find grants for exploring my idea for an animal-free innovation?
Are there any courses on organoids or organs-on-a-chip I could attend?
I have no idea where to start thinking about replacing my animal research. Could you help me?
How do I get an overview of the several research methods that could replace animal research?
Where can I find information about using augmented reality in teaching?
What is your question? You can contact us via TPI@uu.nl (Caroline Eekhart, management assistant Life Sciences).
Both ambitious and realistic
The group is both ambitious and realistic. Chairperson Daniela Salvatori realises that the working group faces major challenges: “We are well aware that the possibilities of drastically reducing animal use in the relatively short term are not there for the taking. They also differ per research area. But if we do nothing, nothing will happen. Transition means dynamism. This offers the setting for new approaches to biomedical research in order to achieve novel methods that better predict human responses. At the same time, we must realise that current animal experiments are done with great care, after a thorough ethical assessment. But things are moving now, and TPI Utrecht is well positioned to lead the innovation in research and education. I see, for example, that these days students already look at animal experiments in a completely different way than ten or twenty years ago. So this is the moment to nudge that movement. The time is right."
Our principles
We are truly committed to the transition, and as well realistic.
We are open and honest, and will not hide motives, goals, or facts.
We trust our partners and act trustworthy ourselves.
We acknowledge the pains, losses, and obstacles involved in the transition, and celebrate the pleasures, gains, and triumphs.
We practice what we preach: we want the transition, therefore we will facilitate it.
We preach what we practice: we facilitate the transition, therefore we will talk about it.
We are alert to ethical issues: if we hesitate to talk to the media, we will assess what could be ethically wrong and will repair it.
The members of the TPI Utrecht working group
Daniela Salvatori
Professor of Comparative Anatomy and Physiology - Utrecht University | chair
Click on picture for introductory video
Jeffrey Beekman
Professor of Cellular Disease Models - UMC Utrecht
Elly Hol
Professor of Glia Biology of Brain Disease - UMC Utrecht
Click on picture for introductory video
Cyrille Krul
Professor in Innovative Testing in Life Sciences & Chemistry - University of Applied Sciences Utrecht
Juliette Legler
Professor of Toxicology - Utrecht University
Jarno Hoekman
Associate Professor in Science and Innovation Studies- Utrecht University
Merel Ritskes-Hoitinga
Professor of Evidence-based transition to animal-free innovations - Utrecht University