"NC3Rs Awards 3Rs Prize for "Lung-on-a-Chip" DeviceResearch describing an innovative 'lung-on-a-chip' microdevice that can accurately replicate conditions in a diseased human lung has been awarded an international prize for its potential to revolutionise preclinical drug testing by offering a viable alternative to using animals. Announced today (26th February 2013) by the UK's National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs), the NC3Rs annual 3Rs Prize recognises the most promising scientific advances and technological developments to replace, reduce or refine the use of animals in research and testing. Developed by Professor Donald Ingber of the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, at Harvard University (USA), and published in Science Translational Medicine, the microdevice contains hollow channels lined with living human cells, mimicking both the interface between tissues and the unique physical environment seen in whole living organs. Crystal clear and flexible, it is approximately the size of a USB memory stick. More at NC3Rs | 
