Breathing new life into product safety testing
University of Hertfordshire spin-out, ImmuONE, is using its groundbreaking 3D human lung model to assess the health effects of inhaled chemicals and medicines, offering a more ethical and accurate alternative to animal testing.
Every day we take around 23,000 breaths, inhaling a cocktail of airborne chemicals that can include perfumes, household sprays and medicines. Ensuring these substances are safe before they are brought to market has traditionally relied on animal testing, a method fraught with ethical concerns and scientific limitations.
Recognising the need for a better approach, Dr Abigail Martin and Professor Victoria Hutter from the University of Hertfordshire embarked on a mission to transform respiratory toxicology. Their journey began during Dr Martin's PhD research, where they developed a pioneering 3D model that closely mimics the physiology of the human lower lung.
By cultivating human lung tissue and immune cells together and analysing their combined response to chemicals, the model provides an unprecedented physiological representation of the human respiratory system. This innovative approach sets it apart from conventional models that primarily focus on epithelial cells – specialised cells that line the surfaces of the body.
From idea to impact
In 2019, having patented their technology with support from the University of Hertfordshire’s enterprise and innovation team, Dr Martin and Professor Hutter co-founded ImmuONE, a biotech company dedicated to advancing animal-free product testing methods.
The company's flagship products, ImmuPHAGE™ and ImmuLUNG™, offer comprehensive insights into the impact of various chemicals along the entire respiratory tract, from the nasal passages down to the alveoli. They allow for more accurate assessments of how inhaled substances affect human lungs, eliminating the need for animal models and accelerating the time to market for a range of products, including potentially life-changing medicines.
"Developing our 3D lung has been both exciting and challenging. From realising that we needed to create the model to the eureka moment when we found that our product was working and bringing positive change to research, it has been an incredible journey.”
Professor Victoria Hutter,
Professor of In Vitro Toxicology
Challenge, setbacks - and motherhood
ImmuONE’s path to success was not without obstacles. The partnership faced challenges that have become familiar to biotech entrepreneurs: lab closures and supply chain disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic, new administrative hurdles and cost pressures following Britain’s exit from the European Union, and a scarcity of lab space in the UK.
On a personal level, balancing the demands of motherhood with leading a cutting-edge research enterprise tested the founders’ resilience – Professor Hutter’s children were six, four and one at the time of ImmuONE’s first product launch, and Dr Martin had become pregnant.
Bench to boardroom
ImmuONE's impact has been significant. With a growing global clientele, including major pharmaceutical and consumer product companies, the company has demonstrated the efficacy and reliability of its models. One pharmaceutical giant noted: "Our three-month study with ImmuONE answered questions that we've been trying to answer for seven years."
The company's growth trajectory is impressive. After securing £2 million in investment in 2023, ImmuONE expanded its operations, moving out of its university labs to new facilities in Milton Keynes and Stevenage. In March 2025, the company announced an additional £600,000 investment to further develop its capabilities, grow its 12-person team, and explore new sectors such as the agrichemical and automotive industries.
Dr Martin said: “Our goal is to help companies avoid unnecessary animal testing and provide more accurate and relevant test results. This latest funding will enable us to expand our range of tests and assays and apply our model across multiple industries. We are also working with regulators to shift industry standards toward animal-free testing.”
How Dr Abigail Martin developed a lung in a dish | Powered By Herts
Visit ImmuONE for more information.