How TNO’s iNoVA Hub is illuminating the full landscape of preclinical models. Animal ánd animal-free testing

At first glance, iNoVA Hub might sound like just another digital tool in the scientific transition toward animal-free innovation. But speak to Dr. Jennifer McCormack, biomedical scientist at TNO and one of the driving forces behind the platform, and you quickly understand. It’s more than a database. “It’s not just about alternatives,” she says. “It’s about showing the full picture so that people can make better, more informed decisions.”

Launched under the umbrella of a ZonMw-funded project, iNoVA Hub is a web-based platform designed to help scientists navigate the entire ecosystem of preclinical models. That includes non-animal innovations, such as organoids and in vitro systems, as well as the animal-based models still in use. “We didn’t want to hide them,” McCormack explains. “We wanted to put everything side by side. Because only then can you start comparing, questioning, and shifting.”

From information overload to focused insight

McCormack holds a PhD in molecular toxicology and computational chemistry, and has worked both in academic research and the pharmaceutical industry. At TNO, she focuses on biomedical research, including drug development and systems pharmacology. “One of my core areas is text mining,” she explains. “I work on extracting relationships from literature, especially the ones that matter for advancing science.” That expertise proved crucial in designing iNoVA Hub. “We already had infrastructure in place to analyze PubMed daily,” she says. “So we used it. We built a platform that automatically pulls in new literature and highlights all preclinical models, animal and non-animal, described in the text.” The platform extracts specific outcomes, filters by model type and application area, and links directly to source articles. “It’s not a static database,” she stresses. “It updates daily. It’s interactive. And it’s designed to be intuitive.”

A platform, not a database

McCormack: “Calling it a database makes it sound like something passive. iNoVaHub is a platform. It’s built to be used, queried, explored.” The interface is sleek, searchable, and layered with filters developed in close consultation with researchers, regulators, and other stakeholders. Users can filter results by:

  • Model type: in vivo, in vitro, ex vivo, or in silico
  • Format: organoid, spheroid, cell system, etc.
  • Application area: what the model is used for (e.g., Alzheimer’s, asthma, burns)
  • Organ system involved: e.g., liver, brain, skin
  • Disease induction method: such as diet-induced or genetically modified models
  • Species used: if applicable

“It was important to us that users could search in different ways,” McCormack says. “You can type in a model name like ‘brain organoid,’ but you can also use broader filters, like selecting the central nervous system and seeing what organoid types show up under that category. That flexibility matters.” The search results offer overview and depth. Users see titles, key snippets, and links to full PubMed articles. “You can quickly decide if something’s relevant. And if you want to explore further, everything’s right there,” she explains.

Powered by real science and user input

From the start, the development team worked with end users to shape the platform’s design. “We had in-depth conversations with scientists from different backgrounds. Think of scientists deep in the industry, academia, regulatory,” McCormack says. “Their feedback helped define the filters and search logic. We didn’t want to guess what people might need, so we asked.” The backend of the system is built on ontologies already used in other TNO platforms, ensuring consistency and scalability. “That gave us a head start,” she says. “It also means we can adapt as science evolves: new terms, new models, new applications.”  iNoVA Hub doesn’t want to limit itself to animal-free methods. “Of course we support the transition,” McCormack emphasises. “That’s why we’re doing this. But you can’t drive change unless you show people where we are now, and where we could go instead.” By including all preclinical models, the platform becomes a comparative tool. “A researcher might search for an animal model they’re familiar with, and discover a viable alternative right next to it,” she says. “That’s the power of visibility.”

From prototypes to launch

Currently in final testing, iNoVA Hub is expected to go live in October 2025. The platform will be freely accessible. We want this to be as open and barrier-free as possible,” she says. “And the interface should be intuitive. We’ve included pop-up tips and brief explanations at each filter. And of course, we have a contact email if anyone gets stuck.”

For tomorrows researchers

One of McCormack’s hopes is that the platform will be adopted by students, educators, and early-career scientists in addition to seasoned professionals. “This is about building awareness early,” she says. “If people learn from the start that there are alternatives, and that those alternatives are searchable and documented, they’ll be more likely to use them. Right now, we’re using only PubMed data. But it would be amazing to integrate protocols, direct contributions from researchers, or even cross-links to other platforms like RE-Place or the NAT Database. It’s all about making the ecosystem more connected.”

Translation

Ultimately, McCormack believes that effective tools must bridge research and application. “There’s often a disconnect between innovation and implementation,” she says. “We don’t just need new models, we need to understand how those models compare, where they fit, and what outcomes they offer.” She’s cautious not to overpromise. “We’re not saying we’ve solved everything. But we’ve made a first step. And we’ll keep building, based on what the community needs.”

What’s in a name

Why “iNoVA Hub”? McCormack laughs. “We wanted something short, memorable, and meaningful. It stands for ‘interactive Navigation of in Vivo models and Alternatives.’ It reflects what we do: guiding users through the landscape, interactively, across all model types.” And for those wondering if this is yet another acronym among many? “It’s better than Preclinical Model Investigation Platform,” she jokes. “Try saying that three times fast.”

Built with public support for public good

The platform is funded by TPI (Transition Programme towards Animal-free Innovation of the Dutch Government) and ZonMw, the Dutch organisation for health research and care innovation. “That matters,” McCormack says. “It’s public money. We wanted to make something truly useful, something that doesn’t just sit on a shelf or gather digital dust.” And based on initial feedback, the approach is working. “Test users have told us they’re discovering models they didn’t know existed. That’s exactly what we hoped for.”

Looking ahead

The first version of iNoVA Hub is nearly ready. McCormack: “We want to integrate more data, more tools, and connect with other initiatives. But most of all, we want to support scientists in making smarter, more ethical choices.”

Interview: Hannah van der Vegt