Project description
Rethinking in vitro models in biomedical research
Biomedical research increasingly depends on in vitro models – cells cultured outside the body – to study living organisms. But how reliable are they? Do they truly reflect the complexity of biological systems? How do researchers from different fields collaborate to develop and interpret these models? Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the EpiVitro project explores these issues by combining philosophical analysis with qualitative research. Focusing on in vitro comparative primatology, it examines how experimental modifications, inferential methods, and institutional factors influence scientific modelling. Based at the University of Copenhagen’s Section for History and Philosophy of Science, EpiVitro will offer new insights into the strengths and limitations of in vitro models.
Objective
In vitro models—cells that are cultured outside the body, and studied as models of living organs or organisms—have been increasing their importance in a wide range of fields in biology and medicine. Yet they involve epistemic problems. How can simplified and experimentally modified cell culture systems serve as reliable models of living organs and organisms? How do they function in broader inferential practices in different contexts? How do experts of different fields, who have different aims and values, interact and collaborate to generate, study, and use in vitro models?
This project will assess the prospects and limitations of in vitro models in comparative biology through answering the above questions. It will integrate philosophical analysis and empirical qualitative methods to examine a case study: in vitro comparative primatology. This is a rapidly developing interdisciplinary area of research, which studies different primate species by applying advance in vitro technology to serve research into human evolution, veterinary science, conservation, etc. Using this case study, this project will generate novel insights into how various experimental modifications, inferential practices, and social/institutional factors facilitate and/or constrain representational function of scientific models.
This project will benefit from and contribute to the existing expertise at the Section for History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Copenhagen, which hosts and participates in research projects that examine epistemic and social implications of specific practices of biomedical research, including in vitro models by combining philosophical analysis and qualitative methods.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology mammalogy primatology
- humanities philosophy, ethics and religion philosophy epistemology
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1165 KOBENHAVN
Denmark
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.