Database on differences between humans and animals helps to reduce animal experiments

The Interspecies Database of the 3Rs-Centre Utrecht Life Sciences has undergone a major update. This update can help reduce the number of animal experiments. The database provides scientific information about the differences and similarities between humans and animals, making the translation of research for new drugs, for example, more reliable.

In the Interspecies Database (www.interspeciesinfo.com) scientists can find information on, for example, anatomical and physiological properties of certain organs in different animal species and in humans. By comparing these values, they can determine which animal species is the most suitable for conducting research that can actually be translated to humans. This prevents unnecessary animal experiments that haver a high chance of failure to translate to humans. In addition, the database is a way to make results from previously conducted animal studies transparent and available, so that duplication of research can be prevented.

Freely accessible

The Interspecies Database is accessible to everyone. All information has been obtained from scientific publications. With the current update, information from literature up to and including the year 2018 has been added to the database. Moreover, the search structure of the database has been improved, making it easier for users to find the information that is important for their research.

Dr. Jan van der Valk, director of the 3Rs-Centre Utrecht Life Sciences: “The website offers an important service to researchers, who therefore spend less time searching through literature. But at least as important is the reduction of animal testing where they actually yield too little. ”

Generous givers

The 3Rs-Centre Utrecht Life Sciences has the mission to replace, reduce and refine animal experiments worldwide (the 3 Rs). The update was made in collaboration with the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and thanks to a gift from donors of the Friends of VetMed Foundation. In the week of 10 June the renewed Interspecies Database will be presented during the annual congress of the Federation of Laboratory Animal Science Associations (FELASA).

Would you also like to support projects that replace, reduce and refine the use of laboratory animals? Support the 3R database programme with a donation through Friends of VetMed.

 

Contact: Dr. Jan van der Valk, director 3Rs-Centre Utrecht Life Sciences, +3130-2532163, 3RsCentreULS@uu.nl