University Develops Virtual Rats to End Animal Testing
Researchers at the University of Oxford were awarded $30,000 to continue development on software that aims to be more accurate for scientific testing than animals.
United Kingdom-based National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement, and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) recently awarded researchers at the University of Oxford $30,000 to continue their work to end animal testing. The researchers developed “Virtual Assay” software that simulates human cardiac cells and can predict how 62 drugs affect the cells. After conducting thousands of trials, researchers found that their software could accurately predict the effect of a drug on arrhythmia 89 percent of the time—a figure that yields a 75-percent accuracy rate in similar tests conducted on rabbits. “Current strategies for drug cardiotoxicity assessment involve a combination of preclinical studies using a variety of animal species,” Oxford researcher Elisa Passini told media outlet Gizmodo. “This screening phase can easily exceed the use of 60,000 animals a year (an underestimation), and this is where our models could play a major role in replacement.” Researchers will use funds provided by NC3Rs to perfect the software, promote its usage within the medical field, and apply it to new fields of study such as researching type 2 diabetes. The software would also be a useful tool in the cosmetics industry—where consumers continue to use their spending power to support brands that do not test beauty products on animals.
IKEA Promotes Plant-Based Eating for Earth Day
The furniture chain sent a newsletter in time for Earth Day with three plant-based recipes it says are good for your body and the planet.
Read More »
'50s Style Vegan Diner Opens in Michigan
Former Detroit-area food truck Shimmy Shack's new retro diner will serve Coney dogs, burgers, and shakes, and host birthday parties, gift-basket making events, and vegan vintage clothing pop-ups.
Read More »
Vegan Chicken Nugget Startup Raises $1 Million
Seattle Food Tech plans to debut its plant-based chicken nugget replicas at school cafeterias by the end of 2018.
Read More »
Impossible Foods Makes First International Debut
The plant-based burger joins competitor Beyond Meat in Hong Kong—where it will be transformed into Impossible Bao, Impossible Hot Pockets, and Impossible Thai Burgers by world-renowned chefs.
Read More »
Vegan Girl Scout Thin Mint Chickpea Snacks Debut in June
Biena Snacks partnered with female-empowerment organization to create its iconic cookie flavor in chickpea-snack form—which can also be eaten frozen.
Read More »
More Flashbacks
- Vegan Tacos Win Food Battle Against Fish Tacos
- Postmates Ends Deliveries of Foie Gras
- New Vegan Market Opens in South Florida
- Beyond Sausage Debuts at All Whole Foods Nationwide
- Harry Styles Ends European Tour with Vegan Pie Prank
- Students Develop Plant-Based Burger That Mimics Salmon
- Vegan Goth-Themed Café Opens in Arizona
- Vegan Mac 'N Cheese Debuts in Hot Bar at 55 Whole Foods
- Gordon Ramsay Finally Gives Vegan Thing a Try
- Eminem Serves Vegan Mom's Spaghetti at Coachella
- Vegan Shop Beyond Sushi Opens Sixth NYC Location
- Field Roast Debuts Vegan Mayo
- Dairy Giant Dean Foods Hits Six-Year Low
- Vegan Ultra Athlete Sets Ninja Warrior Record
- Halo Top Opens Scoop Shop with Vegan Ice Cream Options
- Shake Shack Tests Vegan-Friendly Burger
- Plant-Based Cuisine Named Top Trend in New Zealand
- VegNews Publisher Named Folio's 2018 Top Women in Media
- Tech Startup JUST Exec Starts New Cultured-Meat Brand
- Vegas Resort Revamps Menus with Vegan Options
