Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and InSphero Announce Winners of the HUMAIN Award

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a nonprofit that advances human-based science, and InSphero, a global leader in 3D in vitro technology for drug safety and efficacy testing, are pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Human Advanced In Vitro Model Initiative (HUMAIN) Award. The HUMAIN Award recognizes researchers working to expand access to and accelerate the uptake of human-specific nonanimal approaches. By supporting these projects, the award helps reduce reliance on animal experiments and accelerates the shift to more predictive, ethical research methods.

The five winners of the HUMAIN Award are:  

• Dr. Veronica Zingales, Distinguished Professor, University of Valencia, Spain

Project Title: Developing a Functional Toxicity Index for human-relevant hepatotoxicity screening: application to foodborne contaminant risk assessment

This project aims to create a new, human-based system for detecting harmful effects of chemicals on the liver, using advanced 3D liver models instead of animals. By combining data from multiple tests into a single, easy-to-understand score, the tool will provide faster, more reliable, and more ethical safety information, starting with toxins commonly found in food.

• Dr. Francesca E. Duncan, Thomas J. Watkins Memorial Professor of Reproductive Science, and Dr. Hannes Campo, Postdoctoral Fellow, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, United States
  
  

Project Title: Establishing a physiologically relevant antifibrotic drug screening platform for the human ovary to extend reproductive longevity and improve woman’s health
This project aims to create the first human-based ovary–liver co-culture model to study and reverse age-related ovarian fibrosis, a key driver of reproductive aging and menopause-related health decline. By screening hundreds of anti-fibrotic drug candidates, the research seeks to identify new therapies that could improve ovarian health and quality of life for women as they age.

• Dr. Cristina Müller, Research Group Leader, Paul Scherrer Institute, ETH Zurich, Switzerland

Project Title: Revolutionizing radiopharmaceutical testing with 3D in vitro tumor models for clinical impact in metastatic cancer therapy

This project aims to create advanced 3D human tumor models to test new radiopharmaceuticals for treating neuroendocrine cancers. By comparing two radionuclides and treatment methods, the study will determine which radiation type is most effective to kill cancer cells in the dimension of micrometastases.

• Dr. João Carlos Silva, Assistant Researcher at the Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, and Invited Assistant Professor at Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Portugal
  Project Title: WOAH-Pause! – In vitro modelling of women osteoarthritis health during menopause

This project aims to develop the first human-based dynamic in vitro model that mimics both osteoarthritis (OA) and menopause-related hormonal alterations. The model will help reveal why the OA disease worsens after menopause and allow testing of safer, more personalized therapies, reducing reliance on animal experiments.

• Jin Feng, PhD candidate in Prof. Heiko Lickert's lab, Helmholtz Munich and Technical University Munich, Germany

Project Title: Exploring the therapeutic potential of GLP1-based conjugate to promote human β-cell function and proliferation

This project aims to develop a next-generation GLP1-based compound that protects and regenerates β-cells in diabetes. Using an advanced 3D human islet model, the study will evaluate its safety, ability to boost insulin secretion, and potential to promote β-cell proliferation.

The winning laboratories will receive:

• $20,000 USD toward InSphero technology (Akura™ Spheroid Microplates, 3D InSight™ Microtissues, ARCTis™ Cryo Microtissues) or services (3D InSight™ Services)
• Access to an inaugural one-day training course in the United States or Switzerland, with a $1,000 travel grant per award
• Two hours of monthly consulting with InSphero experts
• Up to $2,000 in travel grants to present findings at scientific conferences
• $2,500 USD towards open access publication fees 

Next steps for the winners of the HUMAIN Award:    

Within the HUMAIN Award, the Physicians Committee and InSphero will support the researchers in their project execution and presentation of scientific findings. The awardees will attend an onsite session at InSphero’s premises in Switzerland, where the 3D cell culture experts will lead a comprehensive hands-on training with the proprietary, scalable, and reproducible 3D in vitro tools for drug discovery research.