{"id":49087,"date":"2026-06-10T14:56:31","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T12:56:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/proefdiervrij.nl\/?p=49087"},"modified":"2026-06-10T14:57:35","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T12:57:35","slug":"researcher-tim-breugem-thanks-to-organoids-were-gaining-new-insights-into-virus-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/proefdiervrij.nl\/en\/updates\/researcher-tim-breugem-thanks-to-organoids-were-gaining-new-insights-into-virus-research","title":{"rendered":"Researcher Tim Breugem: \u201cThanks to organoids, we\u2019re gaining new insights into virus research\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1040px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><p><em>In the photo above we see: infected human airway cells (green) with MERS (purple).<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>In brief:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Research using organoids (mini-organs grown from stem cells) shows how viruses really behave in human cells<\/li>\n<li>This method yields more relevant insights than traditional cell line models<\/li>\n<li>It shows that innovative, human-centered research is already possible and is increasingly becoming the standard<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Tim Breugem, a researcher at Erasmus MC, conducted research into coronaviruses for his dissertation and demonstrates that major scientific strides can be made without animal testing. In his work, he uses organoids (mini-organs grown from human or animal stem cells) to study viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV. \u201cUsing organoids sometimes feels like science fiction,\u201d says Breugem enthusiastically, \u201cbut it is simply reality.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cTraditionally, viruses were studied using cell lines or in laboratory animals,\u201d explains Tim. Cell lines consist of a group of unnatural cells often derived from tumors or genetically modified cells, and barely reflect the real situation in the human body. It is also questionable whether results from animals can be reliably translated to humans. Both situations are a bit like comparing pears and apples, but with organoids, we are fortunately finally comparing apples and apples.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-2\"><h2>Research into coronaviruses<\/h2>\n<p>But what exactly did Tim and his team investigate with organoids? \u201cWe looked at airway organoids to investigate how viruses infect human cells. To do this, we manipulate stem cells so that they develop into airway cells, almost identical to those in the human body. This allows us to determine much more precisely how a virus behaves.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>We funded the printing costs of Tim\u2019s dissertation. Are you also a scientist conducting animal-free research who could use some help?<a href=\"https:\/\/proefdiervrij.nl\/en\/ways-to-collaborate-with-us\"> Then read all about our collaboration opportunities here!<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>For example, Tim discovered that the MERS virus (a coronavirus found in dromedaries in the Middle East), contrary to what was previously thought, can indeed multiply in the upper respiratory tract cells of some people. That insight would not have been possible with classical animal testing, but it was with organoids based on human stem cells. Tim: \u201cOrganoids are a huge step forward in reducing animal testing and improving the relevance of our research.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Benefits of organoids<\/h2>\n<p>Organoids offer benefits not only for research into human infections but also for testing viruses in animals. For example, together with his colleagues, Tim used a piece of tissue from an alpaca\u2014the small cousin of the dromedary in which MERS naturally occurs\u2014to cultivate organoids and thus investigate whether and how the virus spreads without having to use live animals. For <a href=\"https:\/\/proefdiervrij.nl\/dierproeven-doen-om-diersoorten-te-beschermen\">animal-oriented research<\/a>\u2014and thus also for cultivating animal organoids\u2014animal material is naturally required. Fortunately, this material is often available through a biobank, so no animals need to be killed for it.<\/p>\n<p>Tim received this piece of tissue from his Spanish colleagues in Barcelona. \u201cThis way, we can conduct endless research with a single sample.* Moreover, <a href=\"https:\/\/proefdiervrij.nl\/wat-is-een-organoid\">organoids offer the possibility<\/a> to conduct research on animals that are difficult to work with or are protected, such as bats, provided a piece of tissue is available.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_48857\" style=\"width: 160px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-48857\" class=\"wp-image-48857 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/proefdiervrij.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Image_proefdiervrij_portret-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Tim Breugem\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/proefdiervrij.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Image_proefdiervrij_portret-66x66.jpg 66w, https:\/\/proefdiervrij.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Image_proefdiervrij_portret-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-48857\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tim Breugem<\/p><\/div>\n<p>However, Tim is also honest about the current limitations of organoids. \u201cOrganoids are incredibly valuable, but they do not replace everything yet. We cannot replicate a complete immune system, and you cannot vaccinate with an organoid,\u201d he explains. \u201cThat makes it difficult to test the effectiveness of a vaccine without animal testing.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>From niche to standard<\/h2>\n<p>The fact that this is not yet possible naturally does not mean that it will never become possible. For instance, Tim has seen the field change rapidly over the past five years. \u201cOrganoids started as a niche, but are now almost the standard in virology,\u201d he says proudly. His team was ahead for years, but is now being caught up by colleagues worldwide. And he wholeheartedly welcomes that. \u201cThe more labs gain access to these models, the better for science.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to Tim, switching to organoids is primarily a matter of time, money, and a change in mindset. \u201cSome labs are so accustomed to animal testing that they automatically resort to it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>So, it is time to encourage good human-centered research methods. For instance, Tim&#8217;s research with airway organoids shows that this method can lead to valuable insights within virology without the need for animal testing.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-3\"><h2>Animal-free future<\/h2>\n<p>Not a scientist, but still want to contribute to animal-free research? <a href=\"https:\/\/proefdiervrij.nl\/wat-kan-je-doen-om-proefdieren-te-helpen\">Read this<\/a> to find out how you can help. Are you a scientist? Then <a href=\"https:\/\/proefdiervrij.nl\/onze-samenwerkingen\">read more<\/a>\u00a0about how we can work together!<\/p>\n<h2>About Proefdiervrij<\/h2>\n<p><em>The way we treat animals says something about who we are as a society. Especially when those animals are used in research intended to improve people\u2019s health. Proefdiervrij is working towards a world without animal testing by raising the profile of and accelerating human-centred, animal-free science.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>That change is already underway. Increasingly, animal testing is being replaced by human-centred models that better reflect what happens in the human body. Yet animal testing often remains the norm. With 2030 on the horizon, we are working towards a tipping point where animal-free methods are the norm. In this way, we are helping to move away from what is no longer appropriate and building research that helps people, without using animals unnecessarily.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":48851,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[962,963,966],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49087","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-updates","category-blogs","category-science"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/proefdiervrij.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49087","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/proefdiervrij.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/proefdiervrij.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/proefdiervrij.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/proefdiervrij.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49087"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/proefdiervrij.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49087\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49092,"href":"https:\/\/proefdiervrij.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49087\/revisions\/49092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/proefdiervrij.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49087"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/proefdiervrij.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49087"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/proefdiervrij.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49087"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}