CONNECT
Many people worldwide suffer from brain diseases. These diseases are often hard or even impossible to treat. One of the reasons for this that potentially beneficial drugs cannot pass through the blood-brain barrier. The CONNECT project aims to develop a blood-brain barrier model and connect this to a brain model, all derived from cells. With this advanced in vitro test system, researchers aim to be able to study how drugs can be transferred more effectively and safely over the blood-brain barrier in an animal-free and human-relevant manner.
Related
New
TPI.tv videos
Toxicology
Test
test
Projects and initiatives
HealthToxicology
The NAM Navigator: A unique repository for information on the validation and acceptance of New Approach Methodologies
The NAM navigator is an innovative knowledge portal to navigate you to and through valuable information on the development, standardization, validation and acceptance of New Approach Methodologies (NAM). The NAM Navigator acts as an online guide that provides specific information needed in each of these steps, thereby increasing the broad use of animal-free innovations. Follow the link in the video to start navigating!
Projects and initiatives
HealthToxicologyIn vitroIn silico
VHP4Safety project
The safety testing of chemicals and pharmaceuticals traditionally relies on animal studies. However, these raise ethical concerns and often fail to accurately predict human responses. New scientific developments offer opportunities to build a Virtual Human Platform (VHP) for safety assessment, a platform that enables assessment based solely on human physiology and biology, integrating data from in vitro and in silico models. This video explains how we are developing the VHP through an interdisciplinary approach. Read the paper in the videolink or visit or VHP4Safety (https://vhp4safety.nl/) for more information.
Innovation examples
HealthToxicologyIn silico
AI agents for safer science: How AI is Changing Chemical Risk Assessment
This video introduces a novel approach to chemical safety, where intelligent digital agents guided by large language models support scientists in making faster, more transparent decisions. By automating complex workflows and integrating tools like the OECD QSAR Toolbox, these agentic systems help prioritise research, reduce reliance on animal testing, and pave the way for safer, more sustainable innovation.