For twenty years, Swiss biotechnology company Epithelix has stood at the global forefront of cutting-edge, human-relevant science. By pioneering advanced human cell-based tissue models capable of replacing the use of animals in laboratory testing, the company has consistently gone above and beyond to bring toxicity testing firmly into the 21st century.
That enduring commitment was formally recognized this week at the annual Lung In Vitro Event for Innovative and Predictive Models, commonly known as LIVe. During the prominent scientific gathering, the PETA Science Consortium International e.V. presented Epithelix with a special award celebrating the company’s excellence in advancing non-animal inhalation testing and its two-decade dedication to fostering better, more ethical science.
Epithelix specializes in developing sophisticated human cell-based respiratory tissue models designed to mimic distinct regions of the human respiratory tract, ranging from the upper nasal passages to the deep lungs. These innovative, animal-free models provide researchers with vital tools to study complex respiratory diseases, viral and bacterial infections, tissue inflammation, wound healing mechanisms, and inhalation toxicity.
The applications of these human-relevant models are vast and far-reaching. Scientists across academic, regulatory, and industrial sectors can evaluate the safety and toxicity of a wide spectrum of substances, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, medical device extracts, industrial chemicals, pesticides, cigarette smoke, and everyday household products. By utilizing these advanced systems, researchers are able to answer critical scientific questions and ensure product safety without causing harm to animals.
Beyond creating groundbreaking laboratory models, Epithelix has established itself as a major driving force behind the broader scientific transition toward non-animal methodologies. The company actively invests in the validation, training, and global accessibility of non-animal technologies. This mission is further supported by its regular collaborations with the PETA Science Consortium International e.V., which include hosting hands-on technical workshops, providing technology grants and awards, and conducting cooperative testing initiatives.
This ongoing commitment is already empowering researchers worldwide to put superior science into practice. At this year’s LIVe event, Epithelix and the Science Consortium teamed up once again to present a prestigious award to a researcher at the Spanish National Research Council based in Madrid. As the winner of the joint competition, the researcher will receive free, high-quality human respiratory tissue models provided by Epithelix.
The recipient plans to utilize these advanced tissues to study the complex effects of inhaled environmental pollutants on the human respiratory tract. Crucially, the methodology will replicate real-world human exposure conditions far more accurately than traditional animal-based testing ever could, offering profound insights into public health and environmental toxicology.
This marks the fourth consecutive time that the Science Consortium and Epithelix have joined forces to offer this coveted tissue award. Through these collaborative efforts, the partners are providing researchers with vital practical experience using sophisticated human cell-based methods designed to completely replace archaic animal tests.
Epithelix continues to demonstrate that true scientific innovation means leaving animals out of the laboratory entirely. By developing human-relevant technology that yields more accurate and reliable data, the company is proving that modern science can be both ethically sound and biologically superior for both humans and animals alike.
Help Award More Gold Standard Science by Supporting the Science Consortium
For more than a decade, the PETA Science Consortium International e.V. has worked hand in hand with industries, academic institutions, and government regulatory agencies to accelerate the replacement of animals in mandatory toxicity testing. Through dedicated scientific research, the publication of influential peer-reviewed papers, and the organization of specialized training opportunities, the consortium remains committed to championing human-relevant, gold-standard science across the globe.
