MIDBIT

The Multi-Institution Double-Blind in vivo Trials (MIDBIT) is an educational resource developed by SWIRL aimed at providing students with hands-on in vivo experience replicating a multi-centre in vivo drug trial. As far as we know, it is the world's only student-led drug trial. 

Further information on MIDBIT is available below:

Multi-Institution Double-Blind in vivo Trials (MIDBIT) – Student-led pharmacology research using Lumbriculus variegatus

Aidan Seeley, Nia A. Davies, Melisa J. Wallace

Background & Aims

Pharmacology is the study of drug mechanisms of action and requires a holistic understanding of both in vitro and in vivo drug responses. However, the use of animals in pharmacology education has steadily declined with the use of animals in education and training accounting for <1% of in vivo experimental procedures in 2018 [1]. The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry has highlighted this skills gap within graduates [2]. To address this skills shortage, we have optimised a novel in vivo model, Lumbriculus variegatus, to enable in vivo testing of drugs in a teaching environment. As an invertebrate, this model is not covered under the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and overcomes many of the challenges faced in using animals in education. 

Summary of Work & Outcomes

We have successfully used L. variegatus in toxicology teaching to investigate the effect of compounds in vivo. Now, the established protocol has been rolled out to other institutions in a multi-institution double-blind in vivo trial (MIDBIT), investigating the effect of additional compounds using the same method. 

This entirely new method of teaching involves multiple trials at different institutions, using a range of compounds, which are blinded to the participants. Results are recorded in real-time on a cloud-based platform, allowing data analysis to be performed quickly and remotely. This not only provides students with the opportunity to use of novel model for in vivo teaching, but also the opportunity to take part in real-life research, obtaining data on the unknown compounds to increase the knowledge of this model organisms and highlights the importance of multi-institution collaboration within medical research.

A small trial of MIDBIT has been conducted, investigating compounds with known effects, namely caffeine and lidocaine, as a control. This was highly successful, with data collected showing no discernible difference from data collected during MIDBIT (n=5) compared to data generated within the laboratory (n=6). 

Conclusion

It is now envisaged that the MIDBIT be rolled out to additional institutions, increasing the range of compounds investigated. MIDBIT has the potential to benefit the wider pharmacology education community by providing students with a unique opportunity to contribute to the knowledge base and gain hands-on whole animal in vivo pharmacology experience. 

References

1. Home Office. Annual Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals Great Britain 2018.; 2019. 

2. The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. Bridging the Skills Gap in the Biopharmaceutical Industry.; 2018.