A pivotal moment led biomedical researcher Charu Chandrasekera to shift her career focus from using mice for heart failure studies to exploring alternatives to animal testing. Realizing the limited translation of animal test results to human success, she founded the Canadian Centre for Alternatives to Animal Methods in 2017. The center’s pioneering work, which included developing innovative technologies like 3D bioprinted tissues using human cells, aimed to revolutionize the conversation around animal testing in Canada. However, due to funding constraints, Chandrasekera had to close her lab in 2024.
While countries like the U.K, the United States, and the European Union have allocated funding and outlined plans to phase out animal testing in research, Canada lags behind. Despite having strategies to replace animals in chemical and toxicity testing, there is no clear roadmap for reducing the use of animals in biomedical research, which accounts for a significant portion of the millions of animals used in Canadian research annually.
With the industry projected to reach $30 billion by 2030, Chandrasekera emphasizes the necessity for Canada to embrace the transition away from animal testing. The emergence of cutting-edge technologies like organ-on-a-chip models offers promising alternatives to traditional animal testing methods. Milica Radisic, a professor at the University of Toronto, has developed living heart tissue that mimics the functions of a real heart, allowing researchers to simulate conditions like heart attacks without animal experimentation.
Regulators play a crucial role in evaluating the acceptance of alternative methods in research. While some researchers, like physiology professor Michael Czubryt, highlight the importance of animal models in understanding complex biological interactions, others advocate for the adoption of innovative technologies to advance biomedical research.
Despite global initiatives to invest in alternative testing methods, Canada has yet to allocate funds for these advancements. As other countries propel towards phasing out animal testing, the absence of financial support in Canada poses challenges for researchers like Chandrasekera, who may consider relocating to pursue their work. The call for Canada to take a proactive stance in funding and promoting alternatives to animal testing remains imperative for the future of scientific research.
