Western Australia (WA) is making strides in health and medical research with the release of a groundbreaking report, In the Test Tube – Finding WA’s Formula for Health and Medical Research Success. Published by the Legislative Assembly’s Education and Health Standing Committee following an Inquiry, the report sheds light on the state’s priorities for health funding, including focusing on non-animal testing models as a key area of innovation.
Three Priority Areas
The report highlights three critical areas for funding and advancement:
- Preventative Health: Emphasizing proactive health measures to reduce disease burden.
- Clinical Trials Capacity: Enhancing the infrastructure to support robust clinical trials.
- Best Practice Testing Methods: Promoting advanced technologies, including non-animal testing, as the gold standard for research.
Spotlight on Non-Animal Testing
The focus on non-animal methods (NAMs) comes with a strong call to action supported by several key findings:
- Finding 23: Non-animal technologies are revolutionising the research landscape, delivering more accurate and reliable results compared to traditional animal testing methods.
- Finding 24: The inefficiency of animal testing is evident, with 90-99% of drugs that show success in animal models ultimately failing in human clinical trials.
- Finding 25: WA has a unique opportunity to lead the adoption of these innovative testing methods in the health sector.
Support from Key Stakeholders
The WA Department of Health has expressed “in principle” support for the development of non-animal methods. According to the report, the department is exploring pathways to provide backing for these cutting-edge approaches. This initiative aligns with the findings of the 2023 CSIRO Futures Report, which projects that non-animal models like organoids and organ-on-chip (OoC) technologies could contribute a combined $1.59 billion in revenue to Australia by 2040.
Challenges and Opportunities
Despite this potential, the report underscores a gap in national funding. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) currently lacks a dedicated funding scheme for non-animal technologies. However, state-level initiatives, like the NSW-backed NAT-NET consortium, are paving the way for a collaborative, regulatory-supported approach to advancing NAMs.
WA is poised to follow suit, ensuring its medical research community not only adopts ethical practices but also reaps the economic benefits of these transformative technologies.
A Vision for the Future
The integration of non-animal methods into mainstream research signifies a shift toward ethical, sustainable, and scientifically superior practices. By prioritising these advancements, WA aims to join national and global efforts to reduce reliance on animal testing, fostering a future where medical breakthroughs are achieved without harm to animals.
AFSA is looking forward to the progression of this much-needed support in WA and thank the Inquiry Committee for their time and commitment to health and medical research in WA.