Vaccines, cancer medications, or organ transplants – many of these medical advancements would not have been possible without animal experiments.
Nevertheless, they present a moral dilemma that engages both science and the public. Undeniably, nobody enjoys performing animal testing, and ideally, they would no longer be necessary.
In reality, we are moving closer to that world, as cell cultures and digital simulations based on artificial intelligence offer realistic alternatives to reduce or even replace animal testing. But: how advanced are these methods really? What can they achieve, and where do they hit their limits?
Between Ethical Responsibility and Scientific Necessity
Rachel Lippert discussed these and other questions with Prof. Peter Loskill, an expert in Organ-on-Chip technology from the University of Tübingen, and Dr. Louise von Stechow, a life sciences researcher. Interest in the debate was high – the historic Charité lecture hall ruins were completely full.
The experts illuminated the question of whether animal testing is still necessary in biomedical research or whether it can already be replaced by alternative methods, from an ethical, scientific, and societal perspective. The evening was moderated by Amna Franzke from ZEIT Online and Rahel Klein from Deutschlandfunk Nova.
While alternative approaches such as Organ-on-Chip systems and in silico simulations sparked great interest among the audience, the panelists agreed that animal testing remains indispensable in basic research, particularly in the field of neuroscience.
“Animal testing isn’t a goal in itself, but a tool to understand complex biological relationships – for example, how nutrition and brain function interact,” Lippert emphasized. “At the same time, we must continuously work to develop alternatives and use them wherever possible.”
Respectful and Lively Exchange
Guests were able to submit their questions to the panel via a digital question tool. The atmosphere was lively, respectful, and marked by great interest. Many listeners took advantage of the opportunity to continue exchanging ideas with the experts over snacks and drinks after the hour-and-a-half-long discussion.
"I really enjoyed the evening. Animal experiments are currently and in the foreseeable future not completely replaceable, but all methods can complement each other through interdisciplinary collaboration. Together, they’re a winning combination," reported student Leah Köth.
The event highlighted that progress “Beyond Animal Testing” requires collaboration between science, ethics, and technological advancement – a topic that Lippert and her team will continue to advance in their own research.
The podcast resulting from this event is available here (in German).
