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Published: 08 May 2024

NAT Database - Still unique worldwide even after 4 years

In July 2020, the NAT database was launched with 250 entries. NAT stands for Non-Animal-Technologies, meaning animal-free research and testing methods. To date, the number of entries has increased eightfold, recently surpassing the 2,000 mark. Doctors Against Animal Experiments proudly looks back on a success story that significantly contributes to avoiding animal testing and advancing animal-free research. This unique collection has already been honored with three prestigious awards.

The development of animal-free research methods is booming worldwide. Especially in the last 10 years, countless human-relevant technologies have been developed in the fields of medicine and biosciences. However, there are no central registers. In order to gain a certain overview of the enormous variety of modern, human-relevant methods and to make these techniques accessible to professionals, decision-makers, and the general public, Doctors Against Animal Experiments (DAAE) launched the NAT database in mid-2020.

The database contains methods still in development, completed projects, officially recognized technologies, and commercially used methods. It is possible to search specifically for different areas such as oncology, neurology, or ecotoxicology, as well as different methods like 3D bioprinting or organ-on-a-chip technologies. There is also the option to filter by regulatory accepted methods.

"Compared to animal testing, technologies based on human cells or data are characterized by higher human relevance, lower costs, and faster results," says Dr Gaby Neumann, scientific advisor for DAAE. "More and more companies are focusing on animal-free research, and many startups are emerging around NATs. We have addressed this with the new filter function for companies." Currently, there are 332 entries for commercially usable methods in the database.

The NAT database is available to students and staff at over 340 university libraries thanks to its inclusion in the DBIS (Database Information System). It is also used by licensing authorities when assessing applications for animal experiments. "This shows that our NAT database has already established itself as a valuable tool in the scientific world," says Neumann. "We are particularly proud of the appreciation our database has received. In 2021, the Animal Protection Commissioner of Berlin supported us with public funds. And in 2022, we received two awards for the NAT database, namely the international Lush Prize and the Lower Saxony Animal Welfare Prize."

The database will continuously be expanded.