Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 3h

Stronger penalties are needed, but even more critical is speeding the transition to non-animal methods that deliver human-relevant results and avoid the involvement and suffering of animals entirely.

🔚

www.scienceadvancement.org/research-mod...

Research Modernization NOW - Science Advancement and Outreach Division

pproximately 47% of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget, which oversees Americans' health, funds experiments on animals. We need a better way—and our scientists have devised it.

www.scienceadvancement.org

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 3h

Mary Hollingsworth of @harvardanimallaw.bsky.social argues that fines need to go through federal courts, not USDA judges.

Federal judges are far more likely to impose meaningful penalties.

In the last Congress, a bill sought to give the DOJ that authority, but it never got a vote.

6/

1

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 3h

📋 @david-grimm.bsky.social reported that USDA inspectors have lost one-third of their workforce, even as the number of facilities needing inspection has doubled.

But enforcement didn’t just weaken; it nearly stopped.

5/

www.science.org/content/arti...

Facing ‘impossible’ workload, USDA struggles to oversee lab animal welfare

Shrinking staff and other handicaps threaten enforcement of federal law that protects research animals

www.science.org

1

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 3h

Examples of violations:

• Primates at Alpha Genesis died after their fingers & toes got trapped in cages.

• Others were killed after being placed in the wrong enclosures.

• Labs that fail to provide anesthesia or adequate veterinary care are often only warned.

4/

1

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 3h

Even for animals who are covered, like primates or dogs, enforcement has collapsed.

According to an @awionline.org analysis, the USDA increasingly issues “warnings” instead of fines, even when animals die from neglect or mismanagement.

3/

awionline.org/sites/defaul...

Cover of the linked AWI Report: Trends in Animal Welfare Act Enforcement, featuring a closeup of a beagle on a blue background.

1

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 3h

Enforced by the USDA, the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) is the only federal law setting minimum care standards for animals in labs.

But the AWA excludes most species used in experimentation—including rats, mice, fish, and birds—who make up over 95% of all animals.

2/

1

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 3h

According to a new analysis, USDA enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, which has always been sub-par, is getting worse.

For @voxdotcom.bsky.social, @kennytorrella.bsky.social examines how animals—particularly those in U.S. labs—are paying the price.

🧵

www.vox.com/future-perfe...

Animal abusers are getting off easy

How Trump and his Supreme Court made a big problem even worse.

www.vox.com

1 1 4

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 2d

👥 also:
@reginahoo.bsky.social
@rosswaller.bsky.social
@df-antoran.bsky.social

🏛️
@sangerinstitute.bsky.social
@loke-ctr.bsky.social
@scicambridge.bsky.social
@gurdoninstitute.bsky.social
@araid-research.bsky.social

More from @elias-ruizmor.bsky.social 👉 bsky.app/profile/elia...

Elias R. Ruiz-Morales @elias-ruizmor.bsky.social · 16d

🚀 Thrilled to kick off my Bluesky feed with some exciting science!

Are you (or your colleagues) working with ex vivo tissue culture or tissue infection models? 🧫🦠
We just published a new protocol in @cp-starprotocols.bsky.social 🎉

star-protocols.cell.com/protocols/4475

Cell Press: STAR Protocols

STAR Protocols is an open access, peer-reviewed journal from Cell Press. We offer structured, transparent, accessible, and repeatable step-by-step experimental and computational protocols from all are...

star-protocols.cell.com

2

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 2d

In @cp-starprotocols.bsky.social, @elias-ruizmor.bsky.social & colleagues describe how to use human placental explants in infection studies.

Their method supports the culture of larger explants, preserves key cell traits, & maintains high viability.

doi.org/10.1016/j.xp...

#ClinMicro #IDSky 🧪

Graphical abstract from linked protocol by Ruiz-Morales et al (2025). Ruiz-Morales ER, Hoo R, Waller RF, et al. Protocol for a human placental explant model to study acute responses to pathogens. STAR Protoc. Published online September 17, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2025.104097

2 1 3

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 2d

AI can transform cancer research—but only if trained on human-relevant data.

In July, SAO urged #NCI to ensure #AI benchmarks are developed using human cells, tissues, & patient data, not from experiments on animals.

See the full response: www.scienceadvancement.org/wp-content/u...

#OncSky 🧪

Screenshot from linked PDF. Under the Science Advancement & Outreach letterhead, the following text: "Request for Information (RFI): Benchmarks for Artificial Intelligence in Cancer Research and Care (NOT-CA-25-037) Submitted by email to CancerAI@mail.nih.gov on July 22, 2025 We are writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which has more than 10.4 million members and supporters globally, to urge the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to ensure that the datasets used to develop AI benchmarks for cancer research consist of clinical and human-based model data, such as those derived from human cells, tissues, and patient populations. This recommendation is rooted in longstanding concerns about the translatability of cancer research conducted on animals. Despite significant investment in cancer experiments on animals, the success rate for oncology drugs remains below 10%—a strikingly low figure that reflects a systemic failure in current preclinical modeling strategies.1"

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 3d

Read about this immune-competent lung-on-a-chip, & how Ringquist, Singh, @krishroy.bsky.social, & @gtsciences.bsky.social colleagues used it to model severe influenza infection in @natbiomedeng.nature.com. Funded by @wellcometrust.bsky.social, @niaidnews.bsky.social

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

An immune-competent lung-on-a-chip for modelling the human severe influenza infection response - Nature Biomedical Engineering

A lung-on-a-chip device containing immune cells and stromal cells mimics the small airways, recapitulating human immune response to severe H1N1 infection.

www.nature.com

1 3

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 3d

"For decades, lung research has relied on animal models. But mice don’t get asthma like children. Their bodies don’t mount the same defenses."

@gatechengineers.bsky.social & @vanderbilt.edu scientists are reshaping #LungDisease research with their lung-on-a-chip. 🧪

news.gatech.edu/news/2025/09...

A photo of two white mice peeking up from inside a plastic ‘shoebox’ laboratory cage. One mouse has their paws up on the top edge of the cage. The following quote from a September 24, 2025 news.gatech.edu article, attributed to Ankur Singh, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Immunoengineering at Georgia Tech, is on the right: “Five mice in a cage may respond the same way, but five humans won’t ... Our chip can reflect that difference. That’s what makes it more accurate, and why it could dramatically reduce the need for animal models.”

1 2

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 5d

to* deliver usable, human-relevant solutions...

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 5d

🚨 Last week the #NAMs Reduction to Practice Challenge launched! #NIH will award $7M over 3 phases to multidisciplinary teams that can successfully use combinatorial non-animal methods deliver usable, human-relevant solutions within just 3 years. www.herox.com/Complement-A...

#funding 🧪

An azure, crimson, and white graphic with the following text: “NIH Complement-ARIE NAMs Reduction to Practice Challenge. Phase 1 of 3: Proof of Concept and Feasibility. $80,000 for 20 winners. Submission deadline: March 1, 2026. herox.com/Complement-ARIE-RTP.” Graphics include a circle made of arrows and stacked papers with bullseyes.

An azure, crimson, and white graphic with the following text: “NAMs Reduction to Practice Challenge. Priority areas: chronicity, neurobiological models, personalized medicine, cross-disease pathogenesis, toxicology and safety, human health protection. herox.com/Complement-ARIE-RTP.” Graphics include a circle made of arrows and stacked papers with bullseyes.

1 2

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 5d

Her push for non-animal methods is rooted in better data and a vision that, by building out an "amazing toolbox of technologies and cutting-edge approaches," #NIH can create a scientific ecosystem where #NAMs are the 1st choice.

In @statnews.com www.statnews.com/2025/10/03/a...

#scipol

She’s leading NIH’s push to reduce the use of animals in biomedical research

Nicole Kleinstreuer, who is leading an NIH effort to reduce the use of animals in research, began thinking about the issue as a toxicologist at the EPA

www.statnews.com

2

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 5d

🚀 Nicole Kleinstreuer is boldly steering #NIH toward a future of smarter, human-relevant science that's long-lasting and sustainable.

In this interview, she talked with @saratalpos.bsky.social about her hopes for ORIVA, why it's critical to invest in #NAMs for complex diseases, and more.

🧪

1 3

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 6d

Read page 23 of Research Modernization NOW to learn more about why experiments on animals can’t lead us to the cure for breast, or any, cancer and how to support the transition to patient-centric science:
www.peta.org/wp-content/u...

#SciPol

An image with two dark pink stripes at the top and bottom with a light pink background. To the left is black text that reads “p. 21” in a dark pink 12-pointed star. To the right is the cover page of Research Modernization NOW. Next to the cover page is a black diagonal arrow coming through a dark pink magnifying glass, pointing to the right, where there is a screenshot of the Cancer appendix page in Research Modernization NOW.

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 6d

Cutting-edge research is uncovering the mechanisms behind #BreastCancer development, progression, and therapy response.

Human-based methods to improve detection, predict recurrence, and develop effective therapies already exist—now it’s time for funding and policy to support them.

12/

1

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 6d

Yang et al. optimized breast cancer #organoid culture conditions by developing a fluid system that continuously supplies growth factors, shortening culture time without affecting organoid histology or drug response.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

10/

Dynamic culture system advances the applications of breast cancer organoids for precision medicine - Scientific Reports

Scientific Reports - Dynamic culture system advances the applications of breast cancer organoids for precision medicine

www.nature.com

1

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 6d

Using a breast tumor microenvironment-on-a-chip model, researchers at @asuengineering.bsky.social studied the interactions between triple-negative breast cancer, fibroblasts, and immune cells that drive tumor progression.

advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

9/

#organonchip

Tumor Microenvironment On‐A‐Chip and Single‐Cell Analysis Reveal Synergistic Stromal–Immune Crosstalk on Breast Cancer Progression

Using a 3D tumor microenvironment (TME)-on-a-chip model, tumor–stromal–immune crosstalk in triple-negative breast cancer is studied, revealing the TME's combinatorial effect on cancer progression. In...

advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

1

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 6d

Zhao et al. used #machinelearning to uncover a lactylation-related gene signature in breast cancer to predict prognosis & treatment response.

They also identified potential small-molecule therapies by creating molecular docking models.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

8/

Identification of gene signatures associated with lactation for predicting prognosis and treatment response in breast cancer patients through machine learning - Scientific Reports

Scientific Reports - Identification of gene signatures associated with lactation for predicting prognosis and treatment response in breast cancer patients through machine learning

www.nature.com

1 1

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 6d

Researchers in China have developed #CIMPTGV, a machine-learning-based model that integrates clinical, molecular, and genomic data to predict recurrence risk of HR+/HER2− breast cancer.

In @cp-cellrepmed.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1016/j.xc...

7/

Graphical abstract from linked paper by Zhang et al (2025). Zhang H, Yang F, Xu Y, et al. Multimodal integration using a machine learning approach facilitates risk stratification in HR+/HER2- breast cancer. Cell Rep Med. 2025;6(2):101924. doi:10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101924

1 1

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 6d

In this study, @bb-lab.bsky.social & team @ethz.ch characterized the single-cell landscape of 215 #TNBC tumors using imaging mass cytometry & identified a stem-like basoluminal cell type linked to rapid recurrence.

doi.org/10.1016/j.cc...

6/

Graphical abstract from linked paper by Meyer et al (2025). Meyer L, Jackson HW, Eling N, et al. A stratification system for breast cancer based on basoluminal tumor cells and spatial tumor architecture. Cancer Cell. 2025;43(9):1637-1655.e9. doi:10.1016/j.ccell.2025.06.019

1

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 6d

Using human breast cancer tissue samples, @unclineberger.bsky.social and @mdanderson.bsky.social researchers performed #multiomic analyses to identify gene regulatory differences between healthy and cancerous cells driving oncogene upregulation.

doi.org/10.1016/j.xg...

5/

Graphical abstract from linked paper by Regner et al (2025). Regner MJ, Garcia-Recio S, Thennavan A, et al. Defining the regulatory logic of breast cancer using single-cell epigenetic and transcriptome profiling. Cell Genomics. 2025;5(2). doi:10.1016/j.xgen.2025.100765

1

Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D. @ertrunnell.bsky.social · 6d

This #BCAM, SAO is highlighting some innovative methods and recent studies that are reshaping breast cancer research to reflect human pathology with greater precision and real potential to improve care. 👇

4/

#BreastCancerResearch #BreastCancerAwareness

1