Summer Immersion Program Equips 150 Scientists with Human-Based Research Methods, Wins NIH Recognition
核心洞察
The Summer Immersion on Innovative Approaches in Science trained 150 global attendees in human-based new approach methodologies (NAMs) at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
The tuition-free, four-day program featured hands-on workshops in organ-on-a-chip systems, bioprinting, computational toxicology, and other human-relevant technologies.
All post-event survey respondents indicated they are likely to pursue careers using nonanimal methods, with one attendee stating they now seek to "exclusively incorporate NAMs" into future research.
As human-based technologies reshape the landscape of biomedical research and regulatory testing, a growing training initiative is preparing the next generation of scientists to move beyond traditional animal models. Last week, the Summer Immersion on Innovative Approaches in Science convened 150 attendees from around the world at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health for an intensive, four-day program focused on new approach methodologies (NAMs)—techniques that use human cells, tissues, and data to model human biology and disease with greater accuracy than animal-based approaches.
Co-hosted by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (搜索) (CAAT), the tuition-free program drew participants ranging from high school students to established scientists with their own laboratories, reflecting the broad and growing interest in animal-free research methods.
Bridging a Critical Training Gap
Organizers designed the Summer Immersion program to address what they describe as a critical gap in scientific education. Existing curricula often train scientists in animal-based methods that are increasingly viewed as outdated and less predictive of human outcomes, leaving a workforce unprepared for the shift toward human-relevant technologies.
"Scientific tools are evolving quickly, and training must evolve with them," said Mikalah Singer, JD, LLM, science policy specialist for the Physicians Committee. "This program is designed to help researchers gain practical experience with technologies that are increasingly shaping biomedical science and regulatory decision-making."
Thomas Hartung, MD, PhD, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (搜索), underscored the urgency: "We need 'next-gen': Next generation risk assessment, next generation validation, and, most of all, next generation training!"
Hands-On Exposure to Cutting-Edge Technologies
Throughout the week, participants engaged in lectures, interactive workshops, technology demonstrations, and career development sessions. Scientific sessions covered human-based approaches across diverse research areas, including women's health and neurological research. Hands-on training workshops provided practical experience with organ-on-a-chip systems, bioprinting, the adverse outcome pathway framework, computational toxicology and bioinformatics, high-throughput screening methods, and in vitro studies designed to improve preclinical predictiveness.
The program featured a distinguished speaker lineup, including Dr. Joseph Wu, former American Heart Association president and director of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute; Drs. Nicole Kleinstreuer and Warren Casey from the National Institutes of Health; and Dr. James Hickman, chief scientist and co-founder of Hesperos (搜索), a human-on-a-chip biotechnology company.
Mentoring opportunities allowed attendees to network with leaders in the field, while poster presentations enabled participants to showcase their own animal-free research, fostering spaces for connection, collaboration, and community building.
Measurable Impact on Career Trajectories
Post-event survey data suggest the program has a transformative effect on participants' professional outlook. All respondents indicated they are likely to pursue a career using nonanimal methods. One attendee shared that they are "now looking to exclusively incorporate NAMs into [their] future research and education." All respondents stated they would recommend the program to a friend or colleague.
Qualitative feedback reinforced the program's impact. One participant noted that Summer Immersion "challenged [them] to think beyond traditional research models and introduced [them] to a future of biomedical science that is more human-relevant, innovative, and collaborative." Another shared that "attending this program changed the way I think about scientific research."
National Recognition and Future Directions
In December, the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (搜索) (NCATS) at the National Institutes of Health named the Summer Immersion program a winner of the NCATS Translational Science Education and Training challenge, recognizing it as an exemplary model of translational science education and training.
As research institutions and funding agencies expand support for human-based methodologies, organizers emphasize that workforce development is becoming a critical component of scientific progress. The Summer Immersion program aims to bridge this gap by equipping participants with skills aligned with emerging standards in medical research and testing, supporting the much-needed transition away from animal use across academic, industry, and regulatory settings.