In vitro hub
Explore all the resources of the EuroFAANG In Vitro Models Think Tank
From biobanked tissues and genome-edited cell lines to hands-on training in the lab, the In Vitro Hub is where EuroFAANG builds the shared infrastructure behind genotype-to-phenotype research — without needing a live animal at every step. Here you’ll find the ELIXIR Domestic Animals Genome and Phenome Community, a growing European biobanking network built around the 3Rs, and practical training like our in vitro G2P workshop, where researchers get hands-on with CRISPR/Cas9 design, cell culture, and organoid imaging alongside experts from across the network.
Biobanking & In Vitro Models
Every gene edit, every genetic variant, every new breeding idea needs somewhere safe to be tested before it ever reaches a live animal. That’s what this part of the In Vitro Hub is about: a shared European network of biobanks and in vitro models for farmed animal research, built around the 3Rs — replacing, reducing, and refining the use of live animals wherever possible.
In practice, that means:
- A single map of Europe’s biorepositories — tissues, cells, and genome-edited cell lines from terrestrial and aquatic farmed species, connected through one common portal instead of scattered across institutions
- Clear rules for accessing shared resources, so researchers know exactly how to request material for their own work
- An open samples policy — sharing resources equitably between academia and industry, built on EuroFAANG’s wider commitment to open data
- Standardised biobanking protocols, adapted to different species and material types, so results are actually comparable across labs
- A collaborative framework with EUGENA, Europe’s gene bank network for animal genetic resources, to help safeguard genetic diversity
- A fair framework for industry partnership, opening the door to pre-competitive research with breeders and biotech companies
Key outputs
D4.1
D4.4
Other references
Domestic Animals Genome and Phenome Community — publications & milestones
Key Community milestones
- Initial Idea for the Focus Group: Early 2022
- Horizon Europe INFRA-DEV EuroFAANG project launched: January 2023
- First presentation to Heads of Nodes of the Focus Group: May 2024
- GenoPHEnix Proposal submitted to the ESFRI Roadmap: April 2025
- Presentation of progress to Heads of Nodes: May 2025
- Community formally established: December 2025
- Community white paper published: January 2026
The Community is led by our EuroFAANG RI colleagues: Emily Clark (EMBL-EBI), Ole Madsen (ELIXIR Netherlands), and Catherine Larzul (ELIXIR France). This community was also based on active discussion with the IN-VITRO HUB Think-tank
Publications & links:
Training and Outreach
EuroFAANG Training Workshop: In Vitro G2P Research in Practice — a five-day, hands-on workshop (Monday–Friday, 3–7 February) combining expert talks with practical lab sessions on biobanking, genome editing, organoids, and single-cell analysis, plus two round tables on the future of in vitro vs. in vivo G2P research and its links to industry. A playlist was made to make the training available to the community.
As part of the EuroFAANG project initiative, a 5-day workshop gathered leading experts exploring how genotype-to-phenotype (G2P) approaches are transforming livestock research and innovation.
This workshop showcased the power of cross-disciplinary science: comparative genomics, regulatory innovation, genome editing, aquaculture physiology, and stem-cell-based embryology. Together, the talks illustrated how in vitro systems are transforming our ability to understand phenotypes, model resilience, and reduce reliance on animal experiments.
Watch the workshop final movie
Watch the full playlist
