Loughborough secures rehabilitation technology research grant

Professor Mark Lewis, Dean of the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences has been awarded a grant as part of a £4.7million investment in the development of non-animal technologies by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), NC3Rs and UKRI.

The grant will fund a project which aims to develop a platform to investigate multi-tissue crosstalk mediated by exercise induced soluble factors released from human skeletal muscle.

Developing the next generation of non-animal technologies (NATs)

A total of 24 projects were chosen as grant recipients, after being identified as having the potential to secure better health, ageing and wellbeing through the development of non-animal technologies to support ageing research.

The awards made cover a wide range of disciplines and model types including human stem cell organoid systems, vascularised organ-on-a-chip models and novel in silico frameworks.

Each award will focus either on the development of new NATs or enhancing confidence in existing technologies through improving the physiological relevance, throughput or breadth of application of current models.

Dr Cathy Vickers, Head of Innovation at the NC3Rs said:

“We are delighted to announce these exciting awards made in collaboration with BBSRC that evidence the potential for non-animal technologies to deliver a step change in bioscience research and reduce animal use.

“The range of technology approaches we have funded is underpinned by the strength of expertise in non- animal technologies across the UK and the industry partnerships formed will be a key enabler to drive them into real world application.”

We are looking forward to working with our grant holders and helping them to maximise their success.”

For more information, including a list of all the award winners, visit the NC3Rs website.