29/10/2026
humane non-animal relevant medical research that helps humans and animals - please support this charity and spread their message - they have lovely Christmas gifts so check out their shop through their website
🧠 This World Stroke Day, we’re highlighting research that could help us better understand one of the major causes of stroke.
Cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) affects the tiny blood vessels in the brain. It contributes to more than 25% of ischaemic strokes, which account for around 85% of strokes in the UK.
That’s why The Humane Research Trust is funding researchers at the University of Oxford to develop a new way to study the disease.
🔬 Using cells derived from patients with hereditary forms of cSVD, the team is creating tiny models of human brain blood vessels using advanced organ-on-a-chip technology.
These miniature systems allow researchers to study how brain blood vessels behave — and what goes wrong in cSVD — in a human-relevant environment.
The team is also investigating potential treatments that could protect blood vessels from damage.
Dr Paul Holloway, who leads the research, says the work will provide “a new alternative to animal models” for studying 3D brain blood vessels in a brain-relevant environment.
By developing human models of cSVD, this research could help scientists better understand the causes of stroke and identify potential new treatments — while reducing reliance on animal research.
🔗 Find out more about this research on our website — link in bio.