Get to know Dr Cinzia Allegrucci
Dr Cinzia Allegrucci – University of Nottingham
”I think we’ve all been touched by cancer in some way, and that drives my motivation to help patients and make progress in this area.
To help us better understand triple negative breast cancer, Dr Cinzia Allegrucci is developing a new animal-free human-cell based model to provide an accurate platform for studying the disease and testing new treatments without the need for animal experiments.
”My future plans are to grow our current research and train the new generation of scientist to embrace and champion animal replacement technologies.
Can you tell us a bit about your background and what inspired you to pursue cancer research?
I trained as a pharmaceutical chemist and I’m also registered as a pharmacist. My interest has always been in improving healthcare through drug discovery and developing new treatments for patients. After completing my PhD in biochemistry in Italy, I became passionate about stem cell research and new technologies. At that time, the UK was one of the best places, alongside the US, to explore this type of research, so I moved here to pursue it.
As I continued working in this field, I became more interested in cancer research. Cancer is such an awful disease that, despite all the advances, we still struggle to overcome. On a personal level, I think we’ve all been touched by cancer in some way, and that drives my motivation to help patients and make progress in this area.
Why are you so passionate about researching triple negative breast cancer (TNBC)?
Triple negative breast cancer is a particularly aggressive form of cancer that we haven’t made enough progress in treating. What motivates me is the interaction I have with patients through our work at the University of Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre.
We meet people at outreach events, and many of them are incredibly young. It’s heartbreaking to meet young mothers with children who are fighting this terrible disease. They’re so full of hope that they will be cured or that the cancer will never come back. Unfortunately, for many, especially those in advanced stages, that’s not always the reality. My motivation is to advance our understanding of TNBC so we can develop better treatments—ones that can give these people a better chance. Even if we can’t cure it, perhaps we can help prolong their lives so they can see their children grow up.
How could your work reduce the number of animals used in this area of research?
We are using a novel animal-free model for studying breast cancer which aims to replace the use of genetically modified mice, as well the use of animal-derived products. Our organoid model is derived from stem cells which can be genetically modified and then induced to form breast tumours in a dish, without the need for animals.
In addition, these organoids can be formed and maintained, Â without the need of animal-derived products. Both approaches are aimed at reducing and replacing the number of animals used in breast cancer research.
What is an organoid?
These tiny, 3D “mini-organs” are grown from stem cells or cells taken from patients, offering an incredible way to study the human body – without the use of animals.
Organoids are helping to replace animal experiments in the study of diseases like cancer. Researchers can now take tumours directly from patients and grow them as organoids to study their unique genetic characteristics and sensitivity to treatments. This opens the door to testing new drugs and treatments in ways that truly mimic how a patient’s body would respond—bringing us ever closer to developing personalised, patient-specific treatments.
In short, organoids aren’t just fascinating little cell clusters—they’re transforming our understanding of human biology and driving the next wave of medical breakthroughs.
Why do you believe we need a step change and culture change in scientific research?
I believe we should be driving a culture change because the new generation of scientists should embrace alternatives to animal research from the start. They shouldn’t have to go through the traditional process of experiments, especially given the limitations and the difficult personal choices involved. Many people, including myself, care about animals— not just pets, but all animals—and being part of this field gives you a different perspective on animal welfare.
What advice would you give to aspiring researchers or students interested in animal-free research?
My advice is to persevere and be resilient. Cancer research is complex and developing animal replacement models can be challenging. However, this research is very rewarding as every little step makes a great impact on human health and saving animals.
”The new generation of scientists should embrace alternatives to animal research from the start.
What has been the most rewarding part of your research journey so far?
The most rewarding aspect of my research career has been interacting with breast cancer patients, seeing how my work can help improve their cancer treatment and their prospect of surviving this devastating disease.
What are your future plans and career goals?
My career goals are to successfully lead a programme in breast cancer research and to develop new advanced animal-free human cell models that can be taken up by the scientific community and pharmaceutical industry. My future plans are to grow our current research and train the next generation of scientist to embrace and champion animal replacement technologies.
