Medical professional
Scientist

Samen voor betere zorg en
less animal testing

Together for improved
health care and
less animal testing

VitalTissue started in 2024 as a new division of the non-profit organisation and foundation Stichting ETB-BISLIFE. A feasibility study performed by a consortium of hospitals, research- and educational institutions, companies, and interest groups, financially supported by the Dutch government, has shown that the VitalTissue initiative is organizationally, ethically and financially feasible when incorporated in a professional organisation. Multi Tissue Center ETB-BISLIFE has been found willing to implement VitalTissue in its organisation.

ETB-BISLIFE receives, processes, stores and distributes donated human tissues to hospitals for the treatment of patients. VitalTissue utilizes the knowledge of tissues and logistics and the network of hospitals ETB-BISLIFE is collaborating with to realize this initiative and give it a solid basis.

Under the wings of the professional organisation ETB-BISLIFE and with the support of a startup grant by ZonMw and Stichting Proefdiervrij, we aim to successfully implement VitalTissue as a new division in ETB-BISLIFE within 3-5 years and become the infrastructure for the use of vital human residual tissue in scientific research in The Netherlands. We operate with integrity in a transparent, independent and reliable way. This way VitalTissue contributes to the improved and accelerated transition of new biomedical innovations to patients and the transition to experimental animal-free innovations.

“Human residual tissue becomes a valuable source in scientific research”

The patients who are the residual tissue donors come first

VitalTissue aims to make human residual tissue that results from medical procedures available for scientific research to benefit the health of the Dutch society. We team up with doctors, researchers and transporters. The patient, who gives informed consent for the use of the residual tissue, always comes first. The criteria for the use of the donated residual tissue in scientific research and the criteria we set to research institutions can be found via this link. Interests as costs and logistics may not undermine this. We strive for a transparent independent and reliable infrastructure in balance with quality, privacy and safety. In doing so we are building a durable and future-ready non-profit organization.

Reducing animal testing

In The Netherlands, innovative research focused on causes, prevention, and treatment of diseases like cardiovascular diseases, asthma, cancer and neurodegenerative conditions is being performed. Also the effects of ingredients in food and household products that may improve or be detrimental to human health are frequently investigated. Often these experiments are still performed on laboratory animals because direct testing on humans is impossible and alternatives are limited. Animal testing is burdensome for the animals involved and socially undesirable. Furthermore, the results need to be translated to human biology which is complex and unreliable.

VitalTissue accelerates medical research

Human residual tissues from medical procedures can be used as an alternative for animal testing. However, these residual tissues are normally destroyed, thereby preventing researchers to use it as a valuable source for scientific research. Human residual tissue can be obtained from virtually every organ or body part. The availability of human residual tissues enables researchers to investigate biological processes in humans more efficiently, thereby improving and accelerating the development of medicines and accelerating the transition to animal free innovations.

From this perspective the VitalTissue initiative arose to make human vital residual tissue from hospitals available for all scientist in The Netherlands. A good example of a medical procedure that liberates human residual tissue is a tumor resection by intestinal surgery. Not all removed tissue is needed for diagnostics and/or follow-up research. The surrounding healthy tissue is usually destroyed. That is a pity, because this human residual tissue offers great opportunities for scientific research. VitalTissue ensures that this piece of donated human intestine is quickly transported to the laboratory for investigating the function of human intestinal tissue or the development of new medicines.

VitalTissue accelerates medical research

Human residual tissues from medical procedures can be used as an alternative for animal testing. However, these residual tissues are normally destroyed, thereby preventing researchers to use it as a valuable source for scientific research. Human residual tissue can be obtained from virtually every organ or body part. The availability of human residual tissues enables researchers to investigate biological processes in humans more efficiently, thereby improving and accelerating the development of medicines and accelerating the transition to animal free innovations. From this perspective the VitalTissue initiative arose to make human vital residual tissue from hospitals available for all scientist in The Netherlands.

A good example of a medical procedure that liberates human residual tissue is a tumor resection by intestinal surgery. Not all removed tissue is needed for diagnostics and/or follow-up research. The surrounding healthy tissue is usually destroyed. That is a pity, because this human residual tissue offers great opportunities for scientific research. VitalTissue ensures that this piece of donated human intestine is quickly transported to the laboratory for investigating the function of human intestinal tissue or the development of new medicines.