Report on the TRANSVAC workshop on Animal Models

On May 12th the TRANSVAC project organised a workshop on animal models at CV-I Lelystad (NL) titled: “From Bench to Trench? Necessity of animal models in pre-clinical vaccine research: required evidence for efficacy and safety.” A total of 30 people from all over Europe met during this day-long meeting. The use of animal models in vaccine research was discussed from different points-of-view. Jan-Willem van der Laan (RIVM)  spoke from the perspective of a regulator while Barry Walker (NIBSC) and Mark Doherty (GSK) highlighted the choices a scientist has to make when working with different animal models. Ed Remarque (BPRC) eloquently taught the audience statistics by presenting  linear effect models in the evaluation of pre-clinical vaccine studies, while Norbert Stockhofe (CVI) made the case for the use of large animals as models. Miranda van Tuyl (NOTOX) presented the perspective of a Contract Research Organisation (CRO).  Finally Jeffrey Bajaramovic (BPRC) introduced the audience to possible alternatives for the use of live animals during vaccine safety testing such as in vitro TLR activation measurement. 

A second workshop will be held later this year. Please check the TRANSVAC website regularly for updates.

TRANSVAC would like to thank all attendees, speakers and the organisers for making the event a success.