Finally, we can introduce them to you: the teams that will be working hard during this year’s Proefdiervrij Venture Challenge to develop the business skills they need to successfully bring their animal-free innovations to market. Meet HeLLO R&D, Team BTH, StemXBio, and NeuroGut Insights!
This is the Proefdiervrij Venture Challenge
This year, we are organizing the fourth edition of the Proefdiervrij Venture Challenge. Four teams that have achieved a scientific breakthrough in the life sciences will, under the guidance of seasoned business professionals, transform their breakthrough into a solid business case. This way we help animal-free pioneers bring their innovations to the market, so that said models will have a greater impact. In other words: together, we will ensure that their scientific success translates into the replacement of as many laboratory animals as possible. This year’s participants are:
- HeLLO R&D (UMC Utrecht)
- Team BTH (Utrecht University)
- StemXBio (LUMC)
- NeuroGut Insights (University of Twente)
The teams have started their first workshop on February 7. On April 24, we will award €25,000 to the winning team during the Proefdiervrij Event. Do you want to be there when we will give the winner a wonderful prize that they can use to further develop their startup? Then block April 24, 2024, in your calendar now: more information will follow.
HeLLO R&D
In the European Union alone, one million animals are used annually to test the safety of medicines. In the initial testing phases, mice and other small animals are used, while in later testing phases, researchers may use dogs and pigs.
HeLLO is an organoid composed of the most important cell type in the liver. The organoid functions as a reliable human system with which researchers can predict the effects of medicines on the liver. This model can not only be used for the ‘general’ testing of drugs but also as a personalized model for the treatment of specific patients.
Team BTH
They haven’t come up with a catchy name for their innovation yet, but perhaps that’s exactly something experienced professionals can help them with during the challenge. Until then, this trio is just Team BTH: Bas, Thom and Hossein.
The three men have developed a kidney-on-chip that can be used to study the transport of drugs through the body and kidney toxicity. Liver toxicity is a common general side effect of a wide range of medications and is therefore routinely tested for when testing the safety of medicines. According to BTH, this should be done using their kidney-on-chip, not with laboratory animals.
StemXBio
StemXBio has developed various products that enable researchers to grow stem cells into any desired cell type. For example, into so-called beta cells, which produce insulin. In this way, they want to completely transform the development of treatments that help the body repair or replace damaged parts. Animal-free and cost-effective.
The products of StemXBio can be used in the development of medicines and treatments that currently often involve laboratory animals. They offer, among other things, a kit with everything researchers need to culture cells, as well as cell lines of beta cells. A cell line is a group of cells that all originate from a single original beta cell and can divide indefinitely in a laboratory setting.
NeuroGut Insights
The relationship between the brain and the bacteria in our intestines has a huge impact on our health. There is a demonstrable connection between your gut microbiota and common brain disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease.
And yet we still know little about, for example, the impact of medicines and food on the brain. Cell studies are too simple, clinical studies with people are expensive and time-consuming, and animals are not representative. That’s why NeuroGut Insights has linked a gut-on-chip and brain-on-chip to study the interaction between the two vital organs.
Anne Burgers, Science & Innovation Advisor: “The Proefdiervrij Venture Challenge helps researchers make the transition from development to application of their animal-free model. By bringing their models to market, they can truly make a difference for laboratory animals.”
