A groundbreaking centre for research is now up and running at the University of Windsor.
The university celebrated the official grand opening Thursday of the new Canadian Centre for Alternatives to Animal Methods (CCAAM). According to U of W, the lab's mission is to promote the elimination of animal use in Canadian biomedical research and testing through up-to-date techniques and innovation.
Dr Charu Chandrasekera, CCAAM's executive director, said the lab will promote human biology through computer models and artificial intelligence.
"We study human biology at every level of biological function - DNA, pathways, cells, tissue, organ, and systems level," said Chandrasekera in a media release. "We can use human cells from cadavers and from surgical remains; we can engineer tissues and small organs called organoids from adult stem cells; we can even use 3D printing to produce replicas of human tissues and organs for research."
The centrepiece of the CCAAM is the research and training laboratory, named for Eric S. Margolis, the former owner and chairman of Windsor-based Jamieson Laboratories who now focuses on animal welfare. Margolis and wife Dana donated $1 million toward the creation of the facility, as well as support academic program development.
The lab is a big step forward for U of W, according to its president, Dr. Robert Gordon.
"This very generous donation will not only play an important role in developing novel ways of conducting human health research in the lab, but the education and training component means that our students will have an opportunity to learn in a unique setting that supports their academic growth, an ideal combination. I couldn’t be more thrilled," said Gordon.
Complete information on the CCAAM and its work can be found on the official University of Windsor website.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=K34ay0GxbVA
