The Power of the Model – Designing Ethically Acceptable Futures of Human-Based Models in Translational Science

This project explores the ethical and societal implications of shifting from animal to human-based biomedical research models, focusing on chronic kidney disease. Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), organ-on-chip, organoids, and precision-sliced tissue hold promise but face developmental challenges and public skepticism. The project aims to integrate ethical considerations into developing non-animal methods (NAMs) by exploring the dilemmas and uncertainties of these experimental practices.
The project uses anthropological methods to map the scientific processes and broader societal impacts of creating human-based drug testing platforms, particularly for fibrosis treatment. The shift from animal models impacts medical treatment and social and political landscapes.
Research will be conducted in three international labs, focusing on the repositioning of humans within laboratory practices and the ethical and societal outcomes of human-derived models. Acknowledging the deeply relational and ethical practice of assessing how well the models recapitulate human (patho)physiology, our investigations extend beyond the scientific realm to understand the perspectives of patients and the public. Societal understanding and acceptance are key to the widespread implementation of human tissue-based models. Therefore, we will interview tissue donors and patients with fibrotic diseases to explore their reasoning and ideas about treatment futures based on human models. Additionally, we develop an educational workshop with the Steno Science Museum for secondary and high school students, who are the potential donors of the future, to explore scientific and societal issues related to model development, providing a public space to discuss the wide range of science and societal questions entangled in model development.