Cambridge leads £20m MRC hub for stem-cell and AI drug development
The University of Cambridge will lead a new £20 million Medical Research Council hub combining stem cell technology, organoids, AI, and bioengineering to develop more accurate preclinical models for testing medicines. The hub, directed by Professor Matthias Zilbauer and Professor Bertie Göttgens, will establish a national network to validate and accelerate adoption of human-based models across the UK, aiming to reduce reliance on animal testing and improve prediction of drug safety and effectiveness before human trials. Science Minister Chris McDonald stated the hub will allow scientists to test treatments on human tissue grown from patients' cells to determine efficacy earlier than animal models.
