The Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments (FRAME) has announced the two winners of its Summer Studentship Programme 2019, developed to support undergraduates in undertaking summer research projects relating to the development of alternatives to animal use in research.
One of the award winners is Elentina Gjoni who is currently studying for a BSc degree in Biomedical Sciences at Brunel University London. Her winning research project has the potential to advance techniques, knowledge or methods that will help lead to the reduction and replacement of animals in research.
Elentina’s project will involve developing a novel assay to study biofilm formation in Galleria mellonella. Currently, in vivo biofilm assays are often performed in large organisms such as mice, rats, and rabbits. This project aims to develop a new in vivo assay to study biofilm formation in the honeycomb moth (Galleria mellonella).
Elentina said: “I am currently undertaking a placement in the microbiology field, which has helped improve my skills and fuel my interest in the laboratory. During this placement, I’ve become competent in carrying out infection assays in Galleria mellonella. This Studentship will allow me to continue my work with Galleria by carrying out novel biofilm formation assays that would help establish Galleria as a suitable model organism and potentially lead to a publication.”
FRAME Scientific Liaison Officer, Amy Beale, added: “We are very pleased that, through the FRAME Summer Studentship Programme, we are able to offer the opportunity to further the research experience of Elentina.
“FRAME believes in the development of better scientific methods for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment and our aim is the elimination of the need to use laboratory animals in any kind of medical or scientific procedures. As part of this mission, FRAME is committed to educating and supporting research scientists of the future.
“The Summer Studentship projects have the potential to not only reduce the number of animals used in research, but also develop models that may replace the need to use animals in certain areas of research.”
+44 (0)1895 268176 Hayley.Jarvis@brunel.ac.uk