Imagine a future where medical breakthroughs are achieved with greater precision and compassion. That future is closer than you think, thanks to the innovative world of cell cultures. These aren't just lab experiments; they're the building blocks of understanding how our bodies respond to treatments, paving the way for more effective healthcare.
In the realm of health and medical research, the Non-Animal Technologies Network is at the forefront, pioneering cutting-edge methods. These methods aim to mirror the human body's responses to new treatments more accurately.
Let's rewind to 1906, when the first successful animal cell culture was born, using frog nerve cells. These cells were nurtured in test tubes filled with blood, saline, and agar – a gel-like substance derived from red algae. This groundbreaking experiment, led by biologist Ross Granville Harrison at Johns Hopkins University, marked the beginning of tissue culture.
Fast forward to today, and we see a shift. Traditional 2D cell cultures, grown in a single layer in Petri dishes, are being gradually replaced in some research by 3D cell cultures. These 3D cultures are grown in structures that mimic human tissue, offering a more realistic environment for study. These advancements in cell culture technology are crucial for research areas like drug discovery and safety testing.
To fuel these developments and prepare for the future, the Non-Animal Technologies Network (NAT-Net) was established in 2024. With a $4.5 million investment from the NSW Government, supported by the Office for Health and Medical Research, NAT-Net is a collaborative effort co-founded by eight institutions across NSW. Its mission? To champion the use of non-animal technologies, ultimately reducing and replacing the use of animals in research. The University of New South Wales administers this network.
The Push to Reduce and Replace Animal Testing
Associate Professor Adam Hill, a co-founder and member of NAT-Net's Executive Committee, explains, "The research community increasingly recognizes the limitations and ethical concerns associated with animal experimentation." This is a critical point, as it highlights the ethical and practical considerations driving this shift.
Professor Hill, also a Laboratory head at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, one of NAT-Net's founding partners, and Deputy Director of the Institute’s Innovation Centre, emphasizes the potential of non-animal models like cell cultures. "These models can enhance the accuracy of predicting human responses to new drug therapies. In the long term, this could speed up the translation of research findings into clinical applications, improving patient outcomes."
Diving into Patient Stem Cells
The process of cell culture involves growing cells in vitro—for example, in a petri dish or flask—in a lab. Various cells, including human stem cells, are used in health and medical research. Stem cells, found in most body tissues, can replicate and differentiate into other cell types. Patient cell samples (from blood, cells, or skin) provide the human cells for Hill’s research, after undergoing this differentiation process.
"These cells must be collected and handled with approval from the relevant Human Research Ethics Committee," Hill says. "They allow us to use cardiomyocytes (special heart muscle cells), immune cells, and fibroblasts (connective tissue cells). This provides a more realistic and mature representation of the human heart for disease modeling and drug screening." But here's where it gets controversial... some might argue about the ethical implications of using human cells. What do you think?
Advancing Heart Disease Research
Atrial fibrillation is a primary focus of Hill’s current work. "This condition occurs when the upper chambers of the heart (atria) beat chaotically," Hill explains. This is a significant health concern, affecting around 46 million people worldwide. The annual cost to the Australian healthcare system was recently estimated at $881 million, which is 8.4% of the recurrent expenditure on cardiovascular disease.
NAT-Net's research pillar supports Hill's research into this condition at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. "This support is helping to extend my work on modeling atrial fibrillation, to include more complex co-culture models and bioengineered tools," says Hill. "After making engineered atrial tissues based on stem cells, we study how factors such as inflammation, obesity, and neuronal activity contribute to the mechanisms by which atrial fibrillation occurs."
Harnessing New Technologies for Large-Scale Cell Culturing
Advanced equipment allows Hill and his team to grow hundreds of millions of stem cell-derived heart cells to create 3D engineered tissues and organoids (mini organs made of 3D cells) for their heart research.
"For example, robotic liquid handling platforms allow us to automate cell culture processes that used to be done manually," says Hill. "We also use stirred tank bioreactors to grow larger volumes of cells in an environment controlled for optimal temperature, pH levels, and nutrients."
So, what are your thoughts? Do you believe that cell cultures will revolutionize medical research? Are you optimistic about the future of non-animal research? Share your opinions in the comments below!
