 Welcome to the latest news round-up from Understanding Animal Research where we will be running through some of the recently published scientific studies and news articles that involve animal research. As usual, you can find more detail on each of these stories on our website and links are provided in the caption below. Our first story comes from the National Centre for the Three Rs who have awarded this year's Three Rs Prize to Dr Lisa Wagar who has created an entirely animal-free tonsil organoid that models respiratory infection and immunity. Using cells from human tissue samples, Dr Wagar developed miniature tonsils known as organoids. Organoids are an exciting field of research that are already helping to reduce the number of animals used in scientific research. Professor Kevin Shackcheff, chair of the NC Three Rs Board and the Three Rs Prize panel said, The winning paper presents an elegant Three Rs solution to meet a significant and pressing need and I look forward to seeing the continued adoption of this replacement method in labs around the world. For the first time, researchers have imaged the adaptive immune system of zebrafish. The study tracked the movement of immune cells throughout the zebrafish in exceptional detail. These stunning images produced show in detail the cell's systematic circulation around the body. Interestingly, the researchers did not initially set out to map the fish's immune system. Unlike mammals, zebrafish and many other animals do not have a network of lymph nodes which are the bean-shaped organs that play a key role in the mammalian adaptive immune system. The researchers carrying out this study initially set out to understand how an adaptive immune system could work in the absence of these apparently essential nodes which is what has led to these rather stunning images. The first two people to receive an experimental stem cell treatment for epilepsy have experienced a reduction in seizures of more than 90% after one year of treatment. One patient in the study experienced more than a 95% reduction in monthly seizures and seven months after treatment, the same patient stopped having seizures entirely and also saw improvement in memory scores on cognitive tests. The stem cell therapy involved injecting a high concentration dose of inhibitory neurons into the brain. The neurons are grown in the laboratory using human embryonic stem cells. Previous research in animals found that injected neurons were able to integrate with existing brain circuits and suppress seizures long-term. This research is now showing great promise in human clinical trials offering hope that many sufferers from epilepsy will see their symptoms better controlled or even eliminated. Researchers from the University of Manchester and funded by the British Heart Foundation have discovered a new structure inside the hearts of goats. The structure produces the electrical signals necessary to make the heart beat when the main electricity-producing cells called the SA node fail. This natural pacemaker was identified in a study involving 15 goats. Goats were chosen because they have a similar anatomy and physiology to humans and also produce a similar heartbeat to us which gives researchers confidence that these results will be highly relevant to humans. A recent study at Harvard Medical School found that mice kept in a low oxygen environment lived for 50% longer than expected. The study in question used mice that age abnormally fast usually reaching three to four months in age before succumbing to age-related disease. In the wild mice naturally live for around two years. The mice kept in a low oxygen environment lived for a surprising 24 weeks on average 50% longer than expected. In addition to increased lifespan the neurological function and cognition of mice kept in a low oxygen environment was preserved for longer and they performed better in standard tests of coordination and strength. And lastly, this month research was published that showed that taurine may extend the lifespan of various animal species. Taurine is a nutrient found in most animal products and also added as a supplement to items such as energy drinks. Taurine production does tend to decline with age in most species including humans and this new research indicates that reduced taurine may affect lifespan. Both sexes showed improved physical health compared to mice that were not given taurine supplements. In addition, 15 year old Reese's macaque monkeys were also given a six month course of taurine to see if the supplement had the same effect in primates. Whilst the study did not go on long enough to assess whether taurine prolonged lifespan scientists saw improvements in the animal's body weight, bone density, blood sugar levels and their immune systems. Although not yet tested directly in humans researchers have carried out an analysis of 12,000 people and found that those with higher levels of taurine in their blood were generally healthier than people with low taurine. If the data from mice applied to people it would be the equivalent of an extra seven to eight years of life said Professor Henning Vakahaga who was involved in the research at the Technical University of Munich. He goes on to say but it will take proper clinical trials where some people are given the nutrient and others a placebo pill to see if any benefit can be detected.