The company Hurel Corp (Human-Relevant) is a leader in the implementation of miniaturised systems, which mimic the function of an organ, or even of a complete organism, in order to predict the pharmacokinetics and the toxicity of chemical substances in vitro. These "microfluidic biochips" consist of different compartments, imprinted on plastic plates, containing cultured cells and interconnected by micro-channels in which a culture medium circulates, reproducing the systemic circulation of the organism.

In the case of the collaborative project "Allergy test on a chip", the test substance is not deposited directly into the culture medium but on a reconstructed epidermis model EpiskinTM, integrated in the microfluidic chip and forming one of the compartments of the system. The first year of collaboration has enabled demonstration of the capacity of immunocompetent cells activated by a sensitising agent to migrate from one skin compartment towards a compartment imitating the lymph node. These initial results are very encouraging even if there are still many technological and scientific challenges to take on before a completely reliable test is routinely available.

The contribution of this system to the development of alternative methods to animal experimentation was welcomed on the 14th of last January by the association for the protection of animal rights PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), which awarded Hurel Corporation the "Proggy Award" for the "Best Scientific Innovation 2010". These innovating approaches are participating, with others, in bringing to life a 21st century toxicology capable of avoiding animals.

Link to the company site of HµREL® Corporation: http://www.hurelcorp.com