European Animal Research Association

11/09/2026

Assessing the Use of Non-Human Primates in Translational Research Today

EARA and Bioculture Cares are partnering with Xtalks Webinars on a new four-part webinar series examining the science, regulation, oversight and responsibility behind the use of non-human primates in biomedical research.

The series explores where non-human primates remain essential, where new approach methodologies are already complementing animal research and what a rigorous, transparent path forward looks like, supporting the 3Rs – Replacement, Reduction and Refinement.

The first session takes place on Friday 25 September at 11am EDT / 5pm CEST and is free to attend.

Learn more: 🔗 https://xtalks.com/webinars/assessing-the-use-of-non-human-primates-in-translational-research-today/?utm_source=chatgpt.com -form-outer

11/09/2026

Human and monkey stem cells develop into early s***m in mice

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania reprogrammed human and non-human primate cells and transplanted them into mice, where they developed into s***matogonia - an essential early stage of s***m production. The findings offer new hope for understanding and treating male infertility.

“For the first time, we can systematically uncover the molecular mechanisms that build human s***m,” said lead researcher Kotaro Sasaki.

Learn more: 🔗 https://www.eara.eu/news/human-and-monkey-stem-cells-develop-into-early-s***m-in-mice

US researchers found a way to develop early-stage s***m cells in mice from human and non-human primate stem cells, providing new hope for fertility challenges. Despite major advancements in technology and treatments, fertility remains a major issue in today’s society, affecting female and male pat...

10/09/2026

Tumour-like structures may help HIV hide from the immune system

New research in rhesus monkeys has found that the tissue surrounding persistent HIV-like virus (SIV) reservoirs resembles “cold” tumours - environments that are especially good at keeping immune cells out. Because SIV is so similar to HIV, this non-human primate research could reveal new ways to help the immune system target the virus, potentially by borrowing approaches from cancer treatment.

Learn more: 🔗 https://www.eara.eu/news/tumour-like-structures-may-help-hiv-hide-from-the-immune-system

Research from the US has found that areas of tissue where an HIV-like virus persists in non-human primates share features with some tumours that are particularly good at keeping immune cells out, potentially revealing new approaches to targeting persistent HIV. SIV (simian immunodeficiency virus) is...

09/09/2026

Mice study changes paradigm for brain imaging

Researchers at the University of Montreal have discovered that blood flows differently through the mouse brain depending on whether it's responding to touch or pain - challenging an assumption behind how doctors interpret functional MRI brain scans.

“We need to start viewing blood vessels as an active architecture of neural circuits, not just a delivery system,” said lead researcher Ravi Rungta.

Learn more: 🔗 https://www.eara.eu/news/mice-study-changes-paradigm-for-brain-imaging

08/09/2026

Animal studies remain essential to develop cancer drugs

A new opinion piece by João Conde, researcher at EARA member NOVA Medical School - Faculdade de Ciências Médicas in Portugal, argues that organoids and other new approach methodologies (NAMs) can answer specific questions in cancer research, but cannot yet replace animal studies for understanding how drugs behave in a whole, living body.

“The goal is not to eliminate animal studies but to replace low-value animal testing and avoid unvalidated NAM use,” concludes Conde.

Learn more: 🔗 https://www.eara.eu/news/animal-studies-remain-essential-to-develop-cancer-drugs

An opinion article in Trends in Biotechnology by João Conde, a nanomedicine and clinical oncology researcher at EARA member NOVA Medical School in Portugal, argues that organoids cannot replace physiology in cancer drug development. New approach methodologies (NAMs), including organoids, organs-on-...

07/09/2026

Brain “GPS” cells determine where to go in rats

Researchers at the , including Nobel laureates May-Britt and Edvard Moser, have discovered that grid cells, the brain's own GPS, direct rats' attention to a target before they even move.

By tracking rats chasing fast, unpredictable food while recording brain activity, the team found grid cells fired according to the food's position regardless of which direction the rats were looking or moving, suggesting these cells encode an intention to focus attention, not just movement.

Learn more: 🔗 https://www.eara.eu/news/brain-gps-cells-determine-where-to-go-in-rats

04/09/2026

New vaccine strategy protects mice against chikungunya

Researchers from Brazil and Germany have developed a new vaccine approach that protected mice against chikungunya after a single dose and could potentially be adapted to target other viruses.

Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne disease causing fever and severe joint pain, reported in over 110 countries, with no vaccine currently available. Scientists from the Universidade de São Paulo and Universität Bonn genetically modified the virus so it triggers an immune response without causing further infection, protecting mice against an otherwise lethal dose and reducing joint swelling in mice with a normal immune system.

Learn more: 🔗 https://www.eara.eu/news/new-vaccine-strategy-protects-mice-against-chikungunya

Research from Brazil and Germany has developed a new vaccine approach that protected mice against chikungunya after a single dose and could potentially be adapted to target other viruses. Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral disease that causes fever and severe joint pain and has been reported in o...

03/09/2026

Part 1 of our new episode of with Loren Martin is out!

Loren is a professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Toronto, Mississauga, in Canada, using mice to understand how the brain generates the experience of pain, and how our perception of pain can change depending on things like memory, expectation and our social environment.

Curious how researchers study chronic pain using mice? Watch the video to find out!

Catch up on previous videos on our website or on our YouTube channel, or come back next week to see more.

Learn more: 🔗 https://www.eara.eu/projects/transparency-thursday

02/09/2026

Complete marmoset genome opens new avenues for Alzheimer's research

US researchers have released the first complete genome of the common marmoset, a small monkey increasingly used in biomedical research because of its close relation to humans and its natural age-related memory loss, useful for studying diseases like Alzheimer's.

Researchers at the Santa Cruz compared genetic data from 230 marmosets with the new reference genome and found variation in genes linked to Alzheimer's disease in humans, including PSEN1, as well as differences in immune-related genes.

Learn more: 🔗 https://www.eara.eu/news/complete-marmoset-genome-opens-new-avenues-for-alzheimers-research

US researchers have released the first complete genome of the common marmoset, providing a detailed resource for studying the species’ biology, evolution and diseases that also affect humans. Marmosets, small monkeys native to South America, are increasingly used in biomedical research because the...

01/09/2026

mRNA vaccine stops skin cancer from returning in patients

A personalised mRNA cancer vaccine, developed by and , has stopped melanoma recurrence in a phase 3 clinical trial with more than 1,000 patients, when combined with an already approved immunotherapy drug.

Built on the same mRNA technology used in Covid-19 vaccines, and on decades of basic and translational research using animals, intismeran instructs the body to target the proteins present in each patient's unique cancer. Its ability to trigger protective immune responses was studied in mice, ferrets and monkeys, while safety was established in rats, before it was ever given to a human.

Learn more: 🔗 https://www.eara.eu/news/mrna-vaccine-stops-skin-cancer-from-returning-in-patients

A personalised mRNA cancer vaccine, used alongside an approved cancer drug, has stopped recurrence in patients with skin cancer in a clinical trial in the US, following decades of animal research. Melanoma, one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer, often returns after surgery. In a final stage, pha...