Lush Prize 2016
Young Researcher Award
Research Paper

Rebecca Ram, Scientific Consultant, Lush Prize	  Lush	  Prize	  2016	  -­‐	  Young	  Researcher	  Prize	  Research	  Paper	  	  	  	  	  1Executive Summary
The Lush Prize1 is the largest annual global award fund that recognises
achievements in the field of animal-free toxicology and development of alternative
methods to animal testing. In the four increasingly successful years since its launch,
the Prize has awarded a total of £1.2 million in funding, devoted to pioneeringscientific research, educational outreach, lobbying on alternative methods and thescientific and ethical imperatives to end, or where necessary, replace the use ofanimals in chemical safety (toxicity) testing. The prize awards individuals andorganisations across six categories: Science, Public Awareness, Lobbying, Training,
Young Researchers and finally, the 'Black Box' Prize, where in any one year the total£250,000 may be awarded for a key breakthrough in non-animal toxicity testing. Lastyear, the Lush Prize team was delighted to award its first Black Box Prize, divided
between a number of scientists responsible for groundbreaking research to developand validate alternative methods which map to three key stages in elucidating thefirst Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) for skin sensitisation2. The 2015 Black Box
Prize was particularly exciting, as Lush Cosmetics made available a further£200,000, so that all other prize categories could still be awarded.

As in previous years, it is always important to highlight in addition to the winning
projects, those which were successfully shortlisted in 20153. The nominations were,as always of exceptionally high quality and choosing winners remains a challenging
task for the judging panel.
The Lush Prize continues its focus on only the final ‘R’ (replacement) being agenuine alternative to animal testing. No other prize is devoted solely to the '1R' ofreplacements to toxicity tests using animals.

The purpose of this research paper is to focus on one of the Lush Prize categories inparticular- the Young Researcher (YR) Award4.

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http://www.lushprize.org/
http://www.lushprize.org/2015-prize/2015-prize-winners/
http://www.lushprize.org/2015-prize/2015-shortlist/
http://www.lushprize.org/awards/young-researcher-prize/	  Lush	  Prize	  2016	  -­‐	  Young	  Researcher	  Prize	  Research	  Paper	  	  	  	  	  2The Young Researcher (YR) Award

The Young Researcher Award is offered to scientific applicants, aged up to 35 years
old (inclusive) at the time of nomination and rewards an annual fund of £50,000,
usually divided between five winners, for prospective toxicology research projects
which do not involve animals. In their nomination for an award, applicants mustoutline their work and interest in non-animal research to date, as well as future
research they intend to carry out and how the prize fund will be used (for example forspecific areas of investigation and consumable materials). To date, £210,000 has
been awarded to nineteen young researchers from across the world. In 2015, a sixth
Young Researcher prize was possible due to a winner from another category
accepting an award, but kindly declining the accompanying financial prize. TheYoung Researcher prize category also received a record twenty nominations in
2015, its highest yet.

The Young Researcher Award remains distinct from the other Lush Prize categories
as it is awarded on the basis of future work, rather than past successes.
This research paper includes the following:•

A summary of prize winning Young Researcher projects for 2015•

Update on activity of some previous Young Researcher winners•Young Researcher outreach for 2015-2016 and the 2015 Lush Prize
conference•

Exciting new outreach for Young Researcher 2016 - The Lush Prize Young
Researcher Award for Asia and America

As each new research paper provides an update on those written in previous years,
it is advised that these papers are also reviewed, for a comprehensive picture of theYoung Researcher Prize to date. These can be downloaded from the Lush Prizewebsite55

http://www.lushprize.org/awards/background-research-papers/	  Lush	  Prize	  2016	  -­‐	  Young	  Researcher	  Prize	  Research	  Paper	  	  	  	  	  3Lush Prize 2016: Young Researcher (YR) Outreach Project

The objectives of the YR outreach project for the 2016 Lush Prize remain as
communicating individually with potential applicants to ensure understanding of thecriteria for winning a YR award. It also remains an important objective to highlighteffective new communication channels for the Young Researcher Award and in turn,identify potential individual nominees. In the 2015-2016 prize cycle, this has beenachieved by making contact via networking and conferences with a number ofprospective YR applicants, to notify them of the prize's existence generally anddiscuss if their work may be considered relevant. Conferences attended during 20152016 are discussed in a later section.

Summaries of prize winning Young Researcher Projects for 2015
A record six YR prizes were awarded in 2015 to researchers from the USA, Brazil,
Italy and Germany. Summaries of their projects are provided below:

Laura Bray, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research, Germany
Laura's winning proposal used a variety of clinical and in-vitro methods to fulfill threekey areas; firstly, a 'toolbox' to study acute myeloid leukemia in vitro; a highthroughput screening method to progress potential new drugs to clinical trials faster;and a biopsy testing system to personalise treatment,in order to identify if a patient's
cancer has advanced or metastasised.
To do this, Dr Bray proposed to use 3D hydrogel platform cell culture models ofbreast and prostate cancer which the Leibniz team have already developed, toprovide robust microtissue environments which mimic the complex stages of cancer
development and metastasis. Work already successfully published by the team has
shown exciting promise.	  
Lush	  Prize	  2016	  -­‐	  Young	  Researcher	  Prize	  Research	  Paper	  	  	  	  	  4Jeremy Caplin, Hashemi Labs, Iowa State University, USADr. Caplin won a 2015 YR prize for his proposal on ongoing ' placenta on a chip'
research, a 3D microfluidic device no greater than 2cm in size which offers highly
improved performance in toxicity testing. To overcome well known inaccuracies in
the prediction of human responses when using animal based methods, Jeremy'swork combines multi organ chip (MOC) methods using combinations of layers ofhuman cells and delivery of media at a constant flow rate into the devices to mimic
the human body on a microscale, saving not only animals but expensive in-vivo
testing costs too, to investigate for example the effects of alcohol (ethanol) transport
from mother to foetus.
Elena Kummer, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
Elena's 2015 prize winning research proposal is devoted to a better understanding ofallergic sensitization in toxicity testing, without animals. To do this, Dr Kummer andthe team at Universita di Milano are developing a simple test, using human cell lines
already available, to assess the potential of chemicals to activate the immunesystem,by measuring the associated levels of enzymic activation of skin cells
resulting in allergic contact dermatitis(ACD). Dr. Kummer's prize winning work wasdirectly relevant to the theme of the 2015 Lush Prize conference on the breakthroughof the skin sensitisation Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP).

Bianca Marigliani, The Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil
Bianca's award winning project, driven by a long term passion for replacing animals
not only in toxicology but scientific research generally, involves the replacement offoetal bovine serum (FBS), widely used as a serum in cell culture and inhumanely
obtained from the slaughter of pregnant cows, via cardiac puncture of the foetus. Its
use is not only unethical but causes scientific inaccuracies in in-vitro research, due tocontamination from foreign proteins. Bianca and the team at São Paulo are working
to overcome this by making use of the recently approved h-CLAT in-vitro skinsensitisation test, which involves a particular type of human leukaemia cell line, THP1, to investigate if FBS-free adapted THP-1 cells match results to those seen instandard h-CLAT testing. Such research eliminating the use of FBS allows	  Lush	  Prize	  2016	  -­‐	  Young	  Researcher	  Prize	  Research	  Paper	  	  	  	  	  5replacement methods to be truly animal-free and would have global impact in in-vitro
research.
Ilka Maschmeyer, TissUse, Germany
Ilka and the multi-award winning team at TissUse are developing their 'Human on a
Chip' technology by working on systemic connection of different organ chips withmicrofluidic capillary networks and micro-pumps to ensure steady flow rate of media
through the devices, which are capable of maintaining and connecting tissues
derived from cell lines, primary cells or biopsies of various human organs like skin,liver, intestine, hair follicle and kidney. This will allow the Multi Organ Chip (MOC) its
best performance yet to faithfully replicate the human in-vivo system for the testing ofdrugs, cosmetics and other substances by oral, dermal or intravenous delivery andprovide superior results to those obtained from inaccurate animal models.
Dr Lena Smirnova, Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing, USADr Smirnova of CAAT was awarded a 2015 YR prize for her research into humanrelevant, high-throughput 3D in-vitro 'mini-brain' models for chemicals testing, in themuch needed area of developmental neurotoxicity (DNT), combined with the use ofmulti-omics technologies. Lena is using these models to investigate toxicity
pathways and molecular mechanisms, with a particular focus on micro RNA (miRNA)
which plays a key role in gene expression and development of the nervous system,
to investigate response to environmental stress, relevant to conditions such as
Parkinson's disease.	  
Lush	  Prize	  2016	  -­‐	  Young	  Researcher	  Prize	  Research	  Paper	  	  	  	  	  6Feedback and update on activities of current and previous Young Researcher
prize winners
One of the 2015 YR winners, Dr. Bianca Marigliani, along with 2014 YR winner Dr.
Rober Bachinski and Lush Prize judge Professor Thales Trez are three of thefounder members of the 1R Institute of Promotion and Research for theReplacement of Animal Experimentation in Brazil.6 Based in Sao Paulo, the institute,like the Lush Prize, dedicates itself to the promotion of the '1R' of replacement,
rather than reduction or refinement, as the only true alternative to animal testing. The
team have worked very hard since the institute's launch a decade ago, to raiseawareness on the ethical and scientific problems of using animals in research and topromote their replacement via presentations, political activities, workshops andconferences as well as projects and initiatives on humane education, without the useof animals to collaborate with schools, universities and industry.
There is an ongoing need for the YR Prize and outreach to new early career
researchers, as reflected in feedback provided by some of last year's winners, whodescribed how winning a YR award has opened new communication channels, toliaise with other scientists working in similar fields.
Further feedback included a continued need to communicate to universities, both toencourage individuals to nominate and to circulate and raise awareness of the Prize
within their institutions, as well as showcasing the prizes at relevant events andconferences. Lush Prize is active in this area and sends regular mailouts to newacademic contacts on an ongoing basis, as well as attending and providing
sponsorship to annual congresses and events on alternatives to animal testing, topresent information on the YR and other prize categories.

6www.Instituto1R.org	  Lush	  Prize	  2016	  -­‐	  Young	  Researcher	  Prize	  Research	  Paper	  	  	  	  	  7Young Researcher Project- Outreach for 2015- 2016
The Lush Prize team has attended several conferences during 2015 and 2016 so far,including in September 2015, the 51st Congress of the European Societies ofToxicology (EUROTOX) held in Porto. The theme of this year's conference was‘Bridging Sciences for Safety’. EUROTOX is very much a mainstream toxicology
conference which maintains largescale focus on animal use, so Lush Prize attended
to raise awareness and present a poster entitled 'Rewarding innovative animal-freescience around the world', giving an overview of the prize categories available. Of
particular relevance to the Lush Prize and YR outreach project were EUROTOX’s‘Continuing Education Courses’ (CEC) which are described as well attended byyoung scientists and offering ‘cutting edge’ information on various themes including
use of the 3RS in toxicity testing. The 2015 programme included a number ofrelevant topics such as non-animal methods in toxicokinetics and progress inreplacing repeat dose toxicity testing with new technologies.
Following EUROTOX, Lush Prize also attended the 16th Congress hosted by theEuropean Society for Alternatives to Animal Testing (EUSAAT) in Linz7, again
submitting a poster presentation to allow visitors and potential prize applicants to findout more.
On 10th December, Lush Prize was very pleased to sponsor and attend the annual
Animal Replacement Science8 conference, hosted by the Dr. Hadwen Trust (DHT) atCharles Darwin House in London. The theme of this year's conference, the second
hosted by the DHT was 'Fundamental biology in the 21st century: Innovative
solutions and accelerating change'. The morning session included a very successful
scientific discussion on current animal use in cancer research, as well as relevant
non-animal methods. The afternoon session was open to further attendees and LushPrize was pleased to sponsor the event again this year, which included
presentations from FRAME (Fund for Replacement of Animals in Medical Research),
the Blizard Institute and organisations pioneering organ on a chip technologies.

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http://www.eusaat.org/
http://www.animalreplacementscience.com/	  Lush	  Prize	  2016	  -­‐	  Young	  Researcher	  Prize	  Research	  Paper	  	  	  	  	  8Also in December 2015, an article by Lush Prize and published in ATLA (Alternativesto Laboratory Animals) was entitled ' Young Researchers - the ethical challenge' 9.
Extracted from the 2014 YR background paper, it outlines the opportunities for early
career scientists to pursue a professional path in non-animal technologies, not onlysaving animals but gaining expertise in cutting edge methods to end or replace theuse of animals. Such methods, far from stifling scientific research (as is still ratherdisingenuously claimed by many invested in in-vivo animal -based methods) arethemselves a driver for innovation in research and development (R&D).
In April 2016, Lush Prize attended the first Pan American Conference on AlternativeMethods, hosted by The Centre for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) based atThe Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore10.
The conference, held over three days allowed attendees to hear a number ofpresentations which aimed to address a new concept of 'The 6Rs'- in addition to thewell-known criteria of 'Reduction', Refinement' and 'Replacement' of animal
experiments, further interesting areas of 'Roadmaps'; 'Relevance' and 'Read-Across'were covered. This was the first conference of its kind hosted by CAAT as part of its
35 year anniversary and the centennial of the Bloomberg School of Public Health.
A key message of the conference was that innovative alternative methods willprotect people as well as animals, in chemicals safety testing. Former Lush Prizewinner CAAT works with all major industry stakeholders to develop non-animalmethods. CAAT aims for its first Pan-American event to provide a good starting pointto team up with other countries (e.g. Canada) to develop further initiatives. Also ofparticular positive note was the attendance of researchers from Cuba for the firsttime. As part of its exciting international outreach strategy for 2016, Lush Prize
networked with a number of contacts to raise awareness of the award categories andengage with potential nominees.
Maintaining existing, as well as making new contacts at toxicology andpharmacology institutions, faculties and scientific departments of universities and in9Ram, R. (2015) Young Researchers - the Ethical Challenge. ATLA 43; 72-77[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26753946]
10
http://caat.jhsph.edu/programs/workshops/PanAmerican/reg.html	  Lush	  Prize	  2016	  -­‐	  Young	  Researcher	  Prize	  Research	  Paper	  	  	  	  	  9industry continues via email, subscription to regular mailings and social media
outlets , as outlined in previous Young Researcher background papers.

The 2016 Young Researcher Awards - Asia and the Americas
This year in addition, there are exciting overseas developments with the official
launch of Young Researcher Prizes in both the Asia and America regions. Individual
prize funds of £50,000 have been allocated to each of these areas, thereby seeing
this year's YR awards offer up to £150,000 in prize money for new research. In its
international outreach, so far the Lush Prize has engaged with teams in the USA,Japan, Korea and the Middle East to provide initial discussions, support andguidance in launching Young Researcher Award communications locally.

The 2015 Lush Prize conference
The third Lush Prize conference was held in November 2015 with the theme of'Adverse Outcome Pathways - what, how and where next?'11 The conference was anopportunity to showcase all prizewinners and their work (including the winning YR
projects described above). Some presentations, as in previous years were enjoyedduring individual breakout sessions and, in 2015, the additional success of the BlackBox Prize winners was a central focus of the conference and awards, for theirpioneering research on the skin sensitisation AOP to replace animal testing.
As in previous years and now becoming a popular format, the audience was invited
to put questions to our expert panel. Interviews were also held with all young
researchers and other prizewinners during the conference and subsequent awards
gala in the evening, all of which can be seen on the Lush Prize website.

Conclusion

11 http://www.lushprize.org/2015-prize/2015-conference/	  Lush	  Prize	  2016	  -­‐	  Young	  Researcher	  Prize	  Research	  Paper	  	  	  	  	  10

The Lush Prize Young Researcher project is ongoing in 2016 and outreachcontinues with academic institutions, toxicology departments and research teams toraise awareness of the YR Awards and other Lush Prize categories.
Preparations are now underway for the 2016 Lush Prize conference and awards
and, at the time of writing this paper, nominations are open to welcome applications
for Young Researchers and other award categories for this year. Further
international activity for USA and Asia outreach provides exciting opportunities toraise awareness of the Young Researcher awards and the concept of early career
pathways in non-animal toxicology, well into the 2016-2017 prize cycle and beyond.

New references for 2016
In addition to the updated references below, it is recommended to review
comprehensive reference sections provided in previous Lush Prize YR papers.
EUSAAT 2016 Young Scientists Travel Awards
http://eusaat-congress.eu/index.php/congress/2016/young-scientist-travel-award
International Foundation for Ethical Research (IFER): Graduate Fellowships for
Alternatives to the use of animals in science-2016www.ifer.org/fellowships.php	  Lush	  Prize	  2016	  -­‐	  Young	  Researcher	  Prize	  Research	  Paper	  	  	  	  	  11