Researchers at King’s College London and the University of Southern Denmark have received a research contract of £750,000 ($970,425) to investigate the use of laser light in animal research.

The researchers plan to develop a technique to help establish a more effective and humane approach to animal research by quickly identifying disease in animals, showing how the disease is developing at the molecular level and identifying the impact medicine has on the disease. The laser technique would be far less intrusive than traditional methods of measuring the effectiveness of medicine.

“We will use laser light to generate 3D images of the animal. These show how light is scattered, and from this we can identify the disease,” Mads Bergholt of King’s College said. “When laser light hits a molecule in a cell, it is scattered in a very specific pattern. The light can therefore be used as a molecule fingerprint. This allows us to find out what the disease is.”

The multidisciplinary team is currently focusing on potential arthritis medications, and the new technique will provide information on what goes on within the afflicted joints.

The project will run over three years and is funded by the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement, and Reduction of Animals in Research.