In fact, rats, rabbits, cats, dogs, pigs, goats, sheep and primates are all used in knee ligament research. These human cells will be cultured to maturity and 'wounded' in the laboratory. The healing capacity of TLEs will then be evaluated in response to clinically-relevant factors, including pharmacological agents and cyclic mechanical loads. Dr. Josephy is the recipient of a renewal grant for his project to replace the use of animals in genetic toxicology by expression of recombinant human enzymes in Ames test bacterial strains. Using this pioneered method, animal tissues will no longer be needed for bioactivation.
Genetic toxicology is the study of agents which cause heritable damage to cells.
Such studies involve the use of organisms ranging from bacteria, yeast and fruit flies to rodents and primates. Genetic toxicology analysis is also a routine component of the development of new drugs, pesticides, food additives, and other commercial chemical products. Dr. Josephy is further developing a new technology which he pioneered. The advantage of this approach, compared to standard genotoxicity assays, is that animal tissues are no longer needed for bioactivation. We wish both grant recipients much success in their respective projects.