The Biomedical Animal Research News (BARN) Digest collates animal research news from UAR’s 150+ member organisations into one, easy to access, feed. These animal research related stories include topics such as: medical studies and advancements; animal welfare and 3Rs news; funding, regulatory, and policy news; and conservation and environmental research that involves animal testing.
Each week, we pick the most interesting, groundbreaking, and important news to feature in a weekly news roundup. In this round up we feature news stories from 10 - 16 April 2025.
View BARN to see daily news updates from UAR members.
BASIC RESEARCH
Comparison of immune response in lung and lymph node reveals surprising quality of tissue-resident reaction
BABRAHAM INSTITUTE | MICE
"To study the germinal centre in the lung tissue, mice were exposed to allergens and then tissues were collected for analysis. Using microscopy to visualise the germinal centres, flow cytometry to determine the immune cell types present, and genetic sequencing, they were able to profile the cells from germinal centres which form in peripheral tissues and lymph nodes."
Candidate deafness genes revealed in new study
KING'S COLLEGE LONDON | CHICK EMBRYOS
"The researchers used computer-based methods to predict more than 150 potential Six1 targets in ear progenitor cells (cells which eventually form the entire inner ear) from chick embryos... The team then showed that the vast majority of the genes found in chicks are also expressed in human ear progenitors, and that a quarter of them fall into the chromosome regions associated with deafness."
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/candidate-deafness-genes-revealed-in-new-study
Study shows how new antibody therapy works against ovarian cancer
KING'S COLLEGE LONDON | THERAPY RELIED ON ANIMAL STUDIES
"Previous research in animal models suggested that MOv18 IgE activates these corrupted macrophages to drive them towards fighting the cancer."
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/study-shows-how-new-antibody-therapy-works-against-ovarian-cancer
Scientists Generate a 3D Brain Map Once Thought Unattainable
CHARLES RIVER | MICE
"Neuroscientists have done some remarkable research with brain mapping technology, but nothing quite like this: a color-coded map of a piece of mouse brain the size of a grain of sand, in such exquisite detail that for the first time scientists can see whether two neurons are connected and exactly where those connections are."
https://www.criver.com/eureka/scientists-generate-3d-brain-map-once-thought-unattainable
VIRTUAL LAB TOUR
New virtual labtour from The Babraham Institute
BABRAHAM INSTITUTE | VIRTUAL LAB TOUR
The Babraham Institute is a life science research institute undertaking fundamental research to ensure lifelong health and meet the challenge of an ageing global population. Find out more about their highly regulated animal research and see how the facility operates in their new tour of the Biological Support Unit (BSU).
https://www.babraham.ac.uk/our-research/animal-research/virtual-tour
ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR
Study finds 'optimistic' medical detection dogs excel in tasks, while 'pessimistic' dogs shine in scent specificity
UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL | DOGS | ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR
"A new study into medical detection dogs — which use their scent detection abilities to detect diseases or assist individuals with chronic health conditions — reveals that dogs displaying more "optimistic" responses in judgment bias tests tend to perform better overall in detection tasks."
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2025/april/medical-detection-dogs.html
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Last edited: 16 April 2025 11:19
