Determining the toxicity of inhaled substances still heavily relies on animal testing. While lab-grown 3D lung models offer a promising alternative, many remain untested or unvalidated. Our project aims to improve these models by comparing lab results with real-life effects, enhancing their accuracy and reducing the need for animal experimentation in inhalation toxicology testing. 

Funding source: 

https://www.nfp79.ch/en 

Grant number: 206331 

Funding scheme: NRP 79 Advancing 3R - Animals, research and society 

A regulatory step towards 3R: Refinement of in vitro - in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) for predictive inhalation toxicology 

Related publications: 

Current Challenges to Align Inflammatory Key Events in Animals and Lung Cell Models In Vitro | Chemical Research in Toxicology 

Establishing relationships between particle-induced in vitro and in vivo inflammation endpoints to better extrapolate between in vitro markers and in vivo fibrosis | Particle and Fibre Toxicology | Full Text 

Human lung cell models to study aerosol delivery – considerations for model design and development - ScienceDirect 

Comparing species-different responses in pulmonary fibrosis research: Current understanding of in vitro lung cell models and nanomaterials - ScienceDirect