A Biotechnology Showcase: Highlights From Our AAAS Workshop on Human-Specific Research

This event brought together leading experts who are revolutionizing medical research and testing through innovative, human-relevant technologies. The workshop brought together more than 120 participants, drawing attention to the need for modernizing research approaches and moving away from poorly translational methods using animals.

Currently, over 95% of drugs that pass preclinical testing fail in human trials. This staggering statistic underscores the need for more reliable and human-specific research methods. Animals used in research and testing often fail to replicate human biology accurately, leading to costly and harmful failures and delays in medical progress. The workshop aimed to educate and empower researchers to embrace cutting-edge, human-relevant technologies, paving the way for more effective treatments and a new era of medical research and testing.

The workshop featured insightful presentations from leading scientists and industry innovators, each contributing unique perspectives on human-specific approaches:

• Dr. Nick Saites (Mimetas) shared advancements in organ-on-a-chip technology, demonstrating how these models provide physiologically relevant human tissue environments for drug testing and disease research. Dr. Saites’ talk emphasized the versatility of these models and their growing adoption in pharmaceutical research.
• Dr. Madhu Nag (InSphero) discussed the development of 3D microtissues that closely mimic human organ function, helping improve the accuracy of drug discovery and disease modeling. Dr. Nag’s presentation underscored the importance of integrating human-specific data into drug development to improve success rates in clinical trials.
• Jake Chaff (Emulate) highlighted the power of organ-on-a-chip platforms in replicating tissue-specific microenvironments, offering unprecedented insights into human disease and drug responses.
• Dr. Girija Goyal (Wyss Institute, Harvard University) showcased groundbreaking applications of organ-chip technology, including models for lung alveoli, lymphoid organs, and the female reproductive tract, demonstrating their potential to drive personalized medicine.
• Jennifer Molignano (MatTek) emphasized the regulatory acceptance of 3D human tissue models for toxicology testing, reinforcing how these advanced models are replacing traditional animal testing methods.

The success of this workshop reflects a growing momentum toward human-specific research methodologies. Scientists, regulatory agencies, and industry leaders are increasingly recognizing the advantages of these approaches in improving scientific accuracy and accelerating medical breakthroughs.

To advance this progress, the Physicians Committee continues to:

• Increase awareness and application of human-relevant models within the research community.
• Work to secure funding and policy changes that prioritize human-specific, nonanimal methods.
• Educate and train scientists to integrate these technologies into mainstream research.

The time to shift is now. By embracing human-specific methods, we can advance science, improve patient outcomes, and uphold ethical standards in research.