Taiwanese Universities Pioneer Alternatives to Animal Testing

A program initiated by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education aims to eliminate the need for animal testing in medical research by funding innovative educational initiatives. So far, this initiative has supported 77 courses and trained approximately 2,600 students across six partner universities. The program focuses on developing technologies that provide alternatives to animal experimentation, including 3D mapping, digital imaging, and organ-on-a-chip technologies.

According to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture released in October 2022, around 17.95 million laboratory animals were utilized in Taiwan in 2023. This figure includes over 1.12 million animals when excluding embryos, representing a decrease of 3.45 percent from the previous year. The report highlights that among these, more than 16.46 million chicken embryos were used, with over 670,000 rodents, primarily mice.

The program, which runs until 2027, is headquartered at National Chung Hsing University and includes partnerships with National Taiwan University, National Central University, National Cheng Kung University, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, and National Chiayi University. According to Chang Pao-li, Director of the Department of Information and Technology Education, the initiative emphasizes the “Three Rs” of animal experimentation: replacement, reduction, and refinement.

The Ministry of Education’s support allows these universities to offer courses on alternative testing methods and ethical considerations surrounding animal use in research. One course, for instance, explores how virtual and augmented reality can simulate surgical procedures without live animals, while another focuses on culturing in vitro cell models.

Globally, there is increasing concern for animal welfare, as noted by Wu Pei-hua, a team leader at the National Center for Biomodels. She pointed out that regulations aimed at reducing animal testing are more prevalent in Europe and the United States compared to Taiwan. In 2022, the Executive Yuan established an inter-agency platform dedicated to developing technologies that could replace animal testing and promote the Three Rs.

Testing a new drug typically involves multiple experiments with both control and test groups, often requiring about 72 animals for each trial. Traditionally, safety tests for cosmetics and skin care products involved live rabbits and other animals. Advances in technology have shifted this practice toward using skin tissues grown from cell cultures, facilitating the development of organ-on-a-chip systems.

Wu explained that the National Center for Biomodels utilizes liver organ chips developed in the United States, which incorporate human liver cells. These chips can more accurately replicate human responses compared to using lab mice. Despite their advantages, these chips cannot fully assess the response of an entire organism, leading to the integration of additional technologies to enhance accuracy in testing.

As the program progresses, the shift toward alternatives for animal testing could significantly impact both research methodologies and animal welfare standards in Taiwan.