New scientific adviser for Humane Research Australia

Humane Research Australia (HRA), a not-for-profit organisation which promotes humane, non-animal methods of research, has appointed Dr Brett Lidbury to its advisory panel.

An associate professor at The Australian National University (ANU) and adviser to its animal ethics committee, Dr Lidbury brings to HRA his expertise in human-specific alternatives to replace animals in science. The organisation’s chief executive, Helen Marston, said HRA is “grateful to Dr Lidbury for his guidance to promote the implementation of these humane, non-animal methods of research - methods which not only avoid the harming of animals but also provide information which is more likely to lead to medical progress for humans”.

“Intricate yet crucial differences in anatomy, genetics and metabolism mean that a drug or treatment that may work in an animal will not necessarily work in a human,” Marston added. “It is, therefore, essential that Australia embraces the emerging technologies - microdosing, organ-on-a-chip and non-invasive imaging techniques - that provide data which is relevant to humans.”

Dr Lidbury joins veterinarians Dr Andre Menache and Dr Andrew Knight, Animals Australia Executive Director Glenys Oogjes and cardiologist Professor Anne Keogh on the HRA advisory panel. He said he is “delighted to be a member of the HRA advisory panel to promote further their outstanding work, as well as use this position to interact with research colleagues on the science of animal alternatives”.