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Safer Medicines @safermedicines.org · 7d

A brilliant paper by my brilliant colleague Pandora Pound, with a short blog to introduce it - an essential read! safermedicines.org/blog_post/ho...

How can a sociological perspective facilitate the transition from animal research to non-animal, new approach methodologies? - Safer Medicines

In our new paper, Safer Medicines Trust Research Director, Pandora Pound, explores whether a sociological perspective can help explain why animal research persists within academia despite the availabi...

safermedicines.org

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Safer Medicines @safermedicines.org · 7d

Thanks Emily for this excellent thread 👏 There's also a short introductory blog: safermedicines.org/blog_post/ho...

How can a sociological perspective facilitate the transition from animal research to non-animal, new approach methodologies? - Safer Medicines

In our new paper, Safer Medicines Trust Research Director, Pandora Pound, explores whether a sociological perspective can help explain why animal research persists within academia despite the availabi...

safermedicines.org

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Reposted by Safer Medicines

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 7d

In a powerful new article, Pandora Pound of @safermedicines.org uses sociologist Pierre Bourdieu’s ideas on power and legitimacy to ask why animal experimentation still dominates academia—despite scientific advances and increasing external pressure for change.

🧵

#sociology #scipol #philsci 🧪

Graphic titled, “Applying Bourdieu’s concepts to displacing animal experimentation in academia.” Adapted from Pound 2025, DOI: 10.1016/j.namjnl.2025.10005. Four concepts for action are discussed: dilute dominant powers; disrupt existing habitus; rethink scientific capital; and fully comply with laws. In the background are images of crumpled paper, a photo of a rat, and a hand holding a megaphone.

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Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 7d

Most animals used in experimentation are still in academic settings.

Pound argues this isn’t due to scientific necessity, but because the enculturated paradigm is a powerful source of symbolic and economic capital, due to its history and systems of inertia.

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Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 7d

She explores how academics' "reluctance to relinquish their models" is a defensive tactic, given that "the animal research field is fully open to external forces and its autonomy and legitimacy are at risk as never before."

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Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 7d

Pound also calls for a rethink in how we talk about change.

Rather than using “replacement” (which still treats animal experimentation as the default), she suggests “displacement” — a term that signals the intent to phase it out entirely.

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Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 7d

This shift in language matters.

“Replacement” implies there’s something that must be preserved.

“Displacement” reframes the goal: not to replicate animal models, but to move beyond them toward more innovative, human-relevant approaches.

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Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 7d

There's a lot to unpack here, some of which is summarized in the graphic above.

Sit down with a coffee or a cocktail this weekend and give it a full read.

🔚

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

A sociological perspective on the challenges of displacing animal research within academia: the contribution of Bourdieu

The use of non-animal, new approach methodologies (NAMs) is increasing but there has been no associated decrease in animal use. Reasons may include th…

www.sciencedirect.com

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Safer Medicines @safermedicines.org · 9d

The UK government promised to phase out animal testing. A promise isn't enough. We need an ambitious roadmap with firm deadlines, not more delays. Sign the petition demanding a real plan to bring UK science into the 21st century. you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/a-...

A real roadmap to phase out animal testing

It's time for the UK to catch up and focus on modern, human-relevant science. Add your name to the petition calling on the government to create an ambitious and detailed roadmap to phase out animal te...

you.38degrees.org.uk

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Safer Medicines @safermedicines.org · Sep 3

Sign and share this petition to make sure animal testing is REALLY phased out in the UK! #betterscience #humanrelevant you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/a-...

A real roadmap to phase out animal testing

The government promised to work towards phasing out animal testing. Now they're creating a roadmap to make it happen, but it needs to be an ambitious and detailed plan, with clear milestones to drive ...

you.38degrees.org.uk

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Safer Medicines @safermedicines.org · Jul 24

Defending animal research in the USA - our latest blog

safermedicines.org/blog_post/ho...

How are US organisations that promote animal research responding to recent developments? - Safer Medicines

Recent developments in the US have taken us all by surprise, not only because they were unanticipated, but also due to their breadth and ambition. First the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declared...

safermedicines.org

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Safer Medicines @safermedicines.org · Jul 18

Will the UK government's forthcoming strategy to reduce the use of animals in science reflect the bold developments in the US?

safermedicines.org/blog_post/fd...

FDA-NIH Workshop: Reducing Animal Testing - Safer Medicines

A cultural shift Much has been written about Nicole Kleinstreuer’s announcement in the joint workshop between the FDA and the National Institutes for Health (NIH), namely that all new NIH funding oppo...

safermedicines.org

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Safer Medicines @safermedicines.org · May 20

Patients would benefit from human-relevant science in place of preclinical animal tests that risk incorrect predictions of safety and efficacy. #betterscience #humanrelevant safermedicines.org/blog_post/on...

On Clinical Trials Day - May 20 2025 - Safer Medicines

May 20th every year marks Clinical Trials Day, to recognise the day in 1747 when James Lind, a ship’s surgeon in the British Royal Navy initiated what is considered to be one of the first ever clinica...

safermedicines.org

Safer Medicines @safermedicines.org · May 2

UK government needs to quickly up its game, or be left in the dirt by the forward-thinking US FDA, NIH and EPA, who now realise that #betterscience is #humanrelevant

safermedicines.org/blog_post/as...

Astonishing April! - Safer Medicines

It all began on 10th April, when the US Food and DrugAdministration (FDA) announced its intention to take ‘a groundbreaking step to advance public health’ by using ‘more effective, human-relevant meth...

safermedicines.org

Safer Medicines @safermedicines.org · Apr 25

Vivodyne human tissues are making human-first drug testing a reality... yielding rich human data without relying on animal vivariums 👏https://www.contractpharma.com/exclusives/advantages-and-impact-of-fdas-plan-to-phase-out-animal-testing-for-mabs-and-other-drugs/

Advantages and Impact of FDA’s Plan to Phase Out Animal Testing for mAbs and Other Drugs

Andrei Georgescu of Vivodyne discusses key advantages of its humanized drug testing platform and the impact of the FDA’s policy shift.

www.contractpharma.com

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Safer Medicines @safermedicines.org · Apr 19

Experimental methods that don’t use animals, like tissue chips and computational models, lead to the development of safer and more effective therapies and pharmaceuticals.

#betterscience #humanrelevant

utahnewsdispatch.com/2025/04/16/k...

Kudos to the FDA and EPA for planning to phase out animal testing • Utah News Dispatch

Commentary: The Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency say they will start backing off of animal testing.

utahnewsdispatch.com

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Reposted by Safer Medicines

Dynamic42 @dynamic42.bsky.social · Feb 18

“This is a lot easier than I thought!” We hear this often after our workshops. And it's true #organonchip doesn't need to be complicated as long as you start with the small questions & increase complexity with time. The video shows our Online Academy, an e-learning platform for learning #ooc tech.

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Reposted by Safer Medicines

Dynamic42 @dynamic42.bsky.social · Feb 19

[𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠] Only ~10% of drugs have been tested for safety in pregnant women, risking unexpected side effects. In collaboration with esqLABs, Bayer & Placenta Lab we developed an #organonchip platform to study if small molecules can cross the blood-placenta-barrier. Read it here: shorturl.at/5gfpY

3D Intestine-on-chip model to understand fungal infection

Summary of our recent publication on an intestine-on-chip model for gaining a deeper understanding of the pathogenicity mechanisms of Candida albicans.

shorturl.at

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Reposted by Safer Medicines

Dynamic42 @dynamic42.bsky.social · Mar 13

[𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠] The PDAC-on-Chip – A New Dimension in Pancreatic Cancer Research. Read a summary of the most important findings of our recent study with the team of Prof. Dr. Nicole Teusch at the University of Düsseldorf here: zurl.co/7pdot
#drugdevelopment #cancer #spheroids #preclinic

The PDAC-on-Chip - A New Dimension in Pancreatic Cancer Research

A new biochip replicates key aspects of the PDAC microenvironment, providing a powerful tool for drug development and reduction of animal testing.

dynamic42.com

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Dynamic42 @dynamic42.bsky.social · Apr 14

👏 the good news we all needed! FDA announces to replace animal testing with more effective, human-relevant methods including #organonchip. Below, we've summarized the most important points. Curious about organ models? We help researchers bridge the gap between 2D cell culture and animal models.

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Dynamic42 @dynamic42.bsky.social · Apr 15

Organ models trump traditional 2D models for studying barrier function. They recreate the complex microenvironments of specific organs and allow for a more consistent and reproducible way of measuring TEER.

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Safer Medicines @safermedicines.org · Apr 16

Dirty tricks campaign by pro-animal research lobby in Germany

www.aerzte-gegen-tierversuche.de/en/news/ques...

Questionable pro-animal testing campaign planned

Science lobby prepares massive PR push against reduction strategy Science lobby prepares massive PR push against reduction strategy In the run-up...

www.aerzte-gegen-tierversuche.de

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Reposted by Safer Medicines

Eurogroup for Animals @eurogroupforanimals.org · Mar 31

👏❤️ The “Patients are human” campaign by @keintierversuch.bsky.social amplifies the voices of those fighting serious illnesses (ex: multiple sclerosis, breast cancer, endometriosis, epilepsy, prostate Cancer, bipolar disorder,...) & opposing animal experiments.

🔗 Learn more:

Patients are human: challenging animal experiments in medical research

A common misconception suggests that patients with severe illnesses support animal experiments in the hope of finding a cure. But the reality is different. Many patients are speaking out against the…

bit.ly

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Safer Medicines @safermedicines.org · Mar 2

Thank you - enjoy!

Safer Medicines @safermedicines.org · Mar 1

Fabulous review of Rat Trap by Carla Owen of
@afruk.bsky.social - thanks Carla 😀👏
Read the e-book or paperback now 🙏

open.substack.com/pub/animalfr...

Rat Trap by Pandora Pound - book review

🐀 The capture of medicine by animal research and how to break free

open.substack.com