Fish cell culture instead of animal testing: workshop at the Academy for Animal Welfare
Recent EU statistics reveal a striking figure: 35% of all animals used for scientific purposes are fish – totalling more than 2.7 million per year. This figure highlights the significant potential for developing alternative methods and thereby further advancing the EU’s goals to reduce animal testing.
A promising approach lies in so-called cell-based methods. Rather than using whole animals for experiments, these methods involve culturing and studying isolated cells in the laboratory. Such methods are increasingly regarded as the new ‘gold standard’, as they not only offer ethical advantages but also often yield more precise and better-controlled results – for example in ecotoxicology, veterinary medicine or species conservation.
However, implementing these methods also presents challenges. Fish are among the most diverse groups of animals, and this biological diversity is also reflected in the requirements for their cell cultures. For example, the conditions for cell lines from warm-water and cold-water species differ considerably, which requires specialist knowledge and experience.
o impart precisely this knowledge and promote the transition to animal-free methods, the German Animal Welfare Association (Deutscher Tierschutzbund e.V.) is organising a practical laboratory workshop in collaboration with the Working Group on Fish Growth Physiology at the Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN). The aim is to familiarise researchers and specialists with the fundamentals of fish cell culture and to give them the necessary confidence in these innovative methods.
The initiative demonstrates that the shift towards modern, animal-free research is not only possible but is already well underway. With targeted training and interdisciplinary collaboration, cell-based approaches can make a significant contribution in the future – to better science and greater animal welfare in equal measure.