Examining neurodegenerative diseases through better, human-relevant scientific studies

Laying the Groundwork for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Research:

To commemorate Parkinson's awareness month, the JRC tosses a hat into the ring, offering a no-strings-attached knowledge base comprising an arsenal of non-animal models for researchers seeking to delve deeper into the murky world of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

The grim truth is that dementia snags more than 8 million Europeans, and that number is on track to double in less than three decades. An even more daunting statistic: up to 10 million individuals globally suffer from Parkinson's.

Frustratingly, the medical arsenal for patients is limited, with only a select few medicines available that merely address symptoms—no cures in sight. With medication development failure rates soaring, progress in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's research has basically ground to a halt. One significant roadblock to advancement is the reliance on outdated animal models, which fall short in capturing human biology and disease features.

To shift the focus toward more human-relevant research, the JRC's EU Reference Laboratory for alternatives to animal testing (EURL ECVAM) spearheaded a study, scrutinizing advanced non-animal models for neurodegenerative diseases, with emphasis on Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

Human-Centric Models

The fruits of this herculean effort are a user-friendly knowledge base detailing 568 unique models designed to unravel the mechanisms triggering neurodegenerative diseases and to uncover novel therapies. Accompanying this knowledge base is an executive summary of the study and a technical report, shedding light on the key findings and methodology employed.

Models reviewed span a range of criteria: lab-grown cells and tissues (in vitro), computer simulations (in silico), and patient-extracted cells and tissues (ex vivo).

"The knowledge base is not only jaw-droppingly comprehensive, but also surprisingly easy to navigate," gushed Laura Gribaldo, JRC scientist. "This treasure trove not only aids researchers in finding human-relevant models, but also underscores the availability of scientifically advanced approaches offering viable alternatives to archaic animal models."

Pioneering Technologies

Numerous state-of-the-art in vitro models are anchored in 'induced pluripotent stem cells' (iPSCs). These magical counters can replicate indefinitely, and when converted into brain cells, they promise to revolutionize research on neurodegenerative diseases.

The JRC study also shines a spotlight on the emergence of microfluidic devices. These pocket-sized labs-on-a-chip can analyze minuscule samples of patient material, allowing for precise identification of specific disease-related biomolecules.

A Win for All

Notably, academic researchers can leverage this knowledge base to identify models that can be customized and adapted for their specific research goals. Educators can arm their students with the latest cutting-edge information, and funding bodies can identify promising research avenues and steer their investment toward them.

Furthermore, it is expected that the knowledge base will prove indispensable to Competent Authorities in EU Member States when evaluating research proposals, ensuring that every project contemplates the use of non-animal models and methods.

A Series of Studies

EURL ECVAM is embarking on a series of studies to review non-animal models and methods in various disease areas, including respiratory diseases, breast cancer, immune-oncology, autoimmunity, cardiovascular disease, and immunogenicity of advanced medicinal products. With these particular areas selected based on disease prevalence, reliance on animal research models, and volume of animal procedures, it's about time we broke free from the constraints of outdated testing methods.

In 2017, Europe employed approximately 10 million animals for research, with an astonishing 70% used in connection with disease-related research. The European Union's goal, as codified in Directive 2010/63/EU for the protection of animals for scientific purposes, is the complete replacement of animal experiments as soon as scientifically feasible.

Executive summary

Technical report

JRC Data Catalogue

Life science research webpage

The JRC's user-friendly knowledge base, detailed in the study on non-animal models for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, includes data on 568 unique models, which focus on unraveling the mechanisms of medical-conditions such as neurological-disorders.
As part of a series of studies reviewing non-animal models in various disease areas, EURL ECVAM is emphasizing research on human-relevant models for health-and-wellness issues, including neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, to drive advancements in medicinal-conditions and move away from outdated animal models.