Lush Prize for Training - 2015
Research Paper

Lush Prize for Training, 2015 – Research Paper11

Executive Summary

The Training Prize is one of six categories of award within the annual £250,000 LushPrize which recognises outstanding achievements in education and training ofavailable non-animal methods, as well as initiatives in raising awareness of the needfor replacement of animals in toxicity testing. A £50,000 award fund is shared
between all winners of the Training Prize each year.
Prize winning work may relate to training and outreach to researchers and industry,
postgraduates or earlier-education audiences in schools, college or sixth form. Since
its launch in 2012, the Lush Prize has awarded six organisations and individuals (twoper year) from the UK, Italy, Bulgaria, Africa and the USA a total of £150,000 fromthe Training Prize fund.
This research paper includes the following:• Facts and figures - how many animals are saved by training researchers in
non-animal methods• A review of the 2014 Training Prize winners• A review of 2014-2015 activity of key organisations involved in training in nonanimal methods• Finally, a comprehensive reference section (updated for 2015) is included
This paper is intended as an update to the Lush Training Prize in 2015. It is also
recommended that previous Lush Training Prize research papers (2012-2014) arereviewed for further useful information.
Finally, a number of organisations are identified as potential nominations for the2015 Lush Training Prize:
1
The European Society for Toxicology In Vitro (ESTIV): Organises regularmeetings and training workshops to disseminate information on research andeducation in in vitro toxicology across industry and academia as well as
governments.
2
The Alternatives: Continue a campaign of education and training in alternative
methods and replacing animals in research.
3
Proefdiervrij (The Dutch Society to Replace Animal Testing): Campaigns tobring an end to animal experiments in The Netherlands by providing regular lectures
on non-animal methods to national universities.
4
The Mahatma Gandhi Doerenkamp Centre: For their educational workshops
in promoting human 3D tissue models.

Lush Prize for Training, 2015 – Research Paper

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5
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research: For
successful replacement of animals with computer software models in pharmacology
education.

2
Facts and figures- how many animals are saved by training
researchers in non-animal methods?
In terms of training and education in non-animal methods, the number of animals
potentially saved can be looked at in several ways:•

Literally, the number of animals officially used in 'training and education' –179,981 are used for this purpose each year just in the EU, according to mostrecently published figures1. This could be training in either toxicity testing or
more 'basic' research. The breakdown within this total is not easily estimatedor clearly stated in official statistics; however, some limited though useful
information is provided by some member states on the specific purpose of the
training, for example surgical techniques for human or veterinary purposes.
The Czech Republic also states that it provides training seminars and lectures
to animal researchers and technicians, which include 'teaching of alternative
methods to experiments on animals'. Bulgaria reports its highest category ofanimal use as education and training•

The second number is much harder to quantify and relates to the number ofanimals potentially saved on an ongoing basis, as more researchers
worldwide are made aware of non-animal methods, are trained in suchmethods and most importantly, use them as standard practice from then on•

Officially published figures state that over 1 million animals are used in toxicity
tests each year in the EU alone2. However, an increasing number of animal
tests continue to be carried out under the REACH legislation, which alone isestimated to have used more than 800,000 animals to date (many of whomwere used despite the availability of non-animal tests3) and is predicted tototal more than 13 million by the end of the programme, after its mostintensive phase of animal testing (2014 onwards, with the final key
submission deadline being 2018)4

1

Seventh Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the Statistics
on the number of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes in the member
states of the EU
2 Seventh Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the Statistics
on the number of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes in the member
states of the EU
3 Minimising Animal Testing for the Registration, Evaluation, and Authorisation of Chemical
Substances (REACH) Regulation
4 REACH's death toll: 800,000 animals and counting! PETA International Science Consortium
Lush Prize for Training, 2015 – Research Paper

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Ongoing issues in the education and training of researchers in non-animal
methods include:3•

A lack of awareness that alternative, non-animal test methods not only exist
but have been validated for use•

Availability of appropriate guidance for use of approved alternative methods,
which should be provided by the relevant competent authorities. For example,
the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) responsible for REACH recently
published much needed advice to accompany newly adopted skinsensitisation test methods5•

A need for guidance on methods that have been approved for use, on thebasis of inter-laboratory validation and approval. A recently published concept
paper6 by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) highlights how the uptakeof alternative methods, although validated, approved and even included in Ph.
Eur (European Pharmacopoeia) monographs7, is being delayed as themethod must first be demonstrated to function appropriately in each individuallaboratory in which it will be used and for each specific medicinal product that
it will be used to test (product specific validation) and that guidance on therequirements for this final stage of the validation process is currently lacking

2014 Lush Training Prize winners

Two winners of the Training Prize were each awarded £25,000 in 2014:
3.1
Prof. Ovanes Mekenyan, (Laboratory of Mathematical Chemistry8,
Bulgaria)
Professor Mekenyan won the prize, along with his team, for ongoing work on the
QSAR (Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship) Toolbox, a pioneering software
application that enables the implementation of various methods for categorising andassessing the toxicity of chemicals. The subsequent data gaps that arise can then be
filled for the purpose of (eco) toxicity hazard assessments. The system provides thecapabilities to reduce and eliminate animal testing, by maximising the advantage ofalready available experimental data to reliably estimate the hazard assessment of
substances.

5 http://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/21650280/oecd_test_guidelines_skin_sensitisation_en.pdf
6 EMA. Concept paper on transferring quality control methods validated in collaborative trials to a
product/ laboratory specific context
7 https://www.edqm.eu/en/european-pharmacopoeia-background-50.html
8 www.oasis-lmc.org/
Lush Prize for Training, 2015 – Research Paper

4The LMC is a research team of 40 which was established over three decades ago
and is based at the University of Bourgas. The LMC are experts in predicting
toxicological and biological properties of chemical compounds, as well as
development of unique mathematical methods for simulation of metabolism to predict
skin sensitisation, mutagenicity and hormonal toxicity. To share this expertise, they
provide training and consultation in many aspects of 'structure-activity' modelling,including IT-based evaluation of metabolic activity and reactions and building QSAR
models. The LMC provides a free license for academic institutions, regulatory
authorities and NGOs (available upon request) for evaluating applicability domains of
QSAR models (i.e. if the toxicity test endpoint of the chemical can be reliably
predicted with the method in question); selection of chemicals for strategic testing
and finally the management of several databases on metabolites andtransformations observed in different testing environments, as well as chemical
databases including 2D/3D parameters, fate and (eco)toxicity data. The LMC also
provides on-site training for researchers and industry representatives.
The LMC is well known in the computational chemistry and in-silico modelling field
and also provides expertise via its collaboration on a number of EU projects with key
players in the chemicals industry, including 3M, BASF, P&G, Dow Chemicals,
L’Oréal, Givaudan, ExxonMobil, Unilever and DuPont as well as national regulatory
authorities in Germany, France, Denmark, USA, Canada, Japan and Australia.
The LMC continues its training activity since winning the Lush Prize and in April
2015, partnered with The International Council for Animal Protection in OECD
Programmes (ICAPO) to offer QSAR Toolbox training courses to regulators at the
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)9.
3.2

The Africa Network for Animal Welfare10 (ANAW)ANAW was the second Training Prize winner in 2014, accepted by Dr Dennis Makau
for their outstanding work in promoting alternatives to harmful use of animals in
education across Africa.
Established in 2006, ANAW is based in Kenya but works as a Pan African nongovernmental organisation campaigning across many areas. As well as being
permanently ' on call' to help animals in distress across Kenya and surrounding
regions, they work to influence policy and legislation, improving animal welfare andending the use of animals in research. ANAW promotes a number of Alternatives toHarmful Use of Animals in Education and Training that can be used instead of live
animals and actively advocate for the use of these alternatives with relevant
institutions.
In September 2009, a workshop entitled ‘The Africa Animal Welfare Workshop and a
Seminar on Alternatives to Lab Animals in Education’ was held in Nairobi, bringing
9 http://www.piscltd.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/PR-QSAR-training.pdf
10 http://www.anaw.org/
Lush Prize for Training, 2015 – Research Paper

5together participants from 11 African countries, aimed at introducing and educating
stakeholders on alternatives to animals testing. Participants represented various
learning institutions, government agencies and professional associations.
Among the findings from the conference were that data on the number of animals
used for testing was inadequate, due to lack of standard reporting procedures; local
use of alternatives was limited due to lack of information and awareness; educators
who play a pivotal role in the development of the school curriculum would benefit
from further training on alternatives to lead to adoption in schools.
ANAW has since carried out several baseline studies to provide data which informs
the campaign. Since 2010 to date, ANAW has been engaging students andmembers of staff in various institutions of higher learning, e.g. University of Nairobi,
Baraton University and Kenyatta University. The approach has been mainly
discussions, debates, workshops and seminar-like demonstrations on alternatives.
The ultimate goal of this project is the replacement or the substitution of animals
used in teaching/training with non-animal models.
In September 2013, ANAW organised the first International Pan African Animal
Welfare Alliance (PAAWA) conference in Nairobi11, sponsored by a number of key
international animal rights and welfare organisations. The theme of the conference
was 'Main-streaming animal welfare in Africa's development'. Among the alternatives
showcased were models for use in education, to directly replace the use of animals
in dissection.

4
Review of 2014-2015 activity of key organisations involved intraining in non-animal methods
4.1

LARF (The Analysis and Research Laboratory of Pathophysiology)

LARF is based at the University of Genoa in Italy and headed by Dr Anna Maria
Bassi. They offer a wide range of analytical services in in-vitro testing for thechemicals, drug and cosmetic industries12.
The main activities of the LARF include setting up alternatives to animal testingmodels for the evaluation of the biological potential of chemicals, as well as
standardisation and validation of in-vitro assays to be used for the toxicologicalevaluation of substances.

11 http://www.oie.int/doc/ged/D12970.PDF
12 http://www.larf.unige.it/

Lush Prize for Training, 2015 – Research Paper

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LARF was a winner of the Lush Training Prize in 2013 and continue their efforts in
education and awareness of non-animal methods of toxicity testing, in particulartraining courses in animal-free cell culture research. For example, in December
2013, LARF ran its fifth theoretical and practical based course in 'Cell Culture:
Alternative Methods'. The course provides key information on some alternative
methods to animal testing, including human reconstituted tissue. Participants get theopportunity to learn and try out ready to use in-vitro models, all of which are entirely
free of any animal derived materials. Reduced fees are offered to students tomaximise attendance and raise awareness of this vitally important course.
Since winning the Lush Training Prize, LARF has seen an increase in interest in thecourses it offers and more applications from international participants. LARF believes
that continuing to raise awareness of the Lush Prize via effective promotion, event
sponsorship, conferences and advertising will improve outreach, acceptance anddiscussion of replacing animals in toxicity testing.
4.2

XCellLR8

XCellR8 are a UK-based contract research organisation (CRO), fully committed toreplacing animals in toxicity testing and with the aim of training others in doing so13.
A previous Lush Prize winner, XCellR8 have, since 2008, trained over 300
researchers worldwide in using animal-free cell culture methods that are fully
approved for regulatory use. Since winning the Lush Prize, XCellR8 are expanding
their training programme, as well as continuing their work in offering animal-free
testing methods, for example in skin sensitisation and genotoxicity testing.
XCellR8 are currently working on an exciting and innovative project towards
replacement of the cruel and archaic LD5014, a lethal test which measures the toxicity
of a substance when 50% of the animals (dosed with huge concentrations of thesubstance) have died. The LD50 has long been considered by industry to be not only
outdated and unnecessary, but scientifically crude and unreliable in predicting
human responses. Despite this widespread opinion, the most recently available
statistics show that more than 340,0001 animals suffer and die in LD50 and 'otherlethal' toxicity tests each year in the EU alone, making the research and training
initiatives of XCellR8 and other like-minded organisations more important than ever.
With this in mind, in September 2014, XCellR8 initiated an eighteen monthcollaboration with FRAME (Fund for Replacement of Animals in Medical
Experiments) and other partners to investigate viable replacement solutions forovercoming conflict between the EU Cosmetic Regulation (which bans the use ofanimal testing in cosmetics) and the chemicals testing regulation REACH(Registration, Evaluation, and Authorisation of Chemicals) which still requires animal
testing and therefore impacts on chemicals to be used in cosmetic products.
13 http://www.x-cellr8.com/
14
http://www.x-cellr8.com/testing/in-development/
Lush Prize for Training, 2015 – Research Paper

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4.3

The Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS)15

Based in Maryland, USA, IIVS was established in 1997 and is recognised as a world
leading organisation in outreach and training in alternative methods to animal testing.
IIVS have featured prominently in Lush Prize as a Training award winner in 2012.
Training workshops organised by the IIVS focus on discussion of the finer detail of
in-vitro tests and the toxicological endpoints they meet. The workshops also involve
participants who have extensive experience or specialised knowledge of the tests forintensive scientific review and debate, with the aim of clarifying and understanding
the procedures required. Workshop reports are then widely distributed among the invitro testing community for feedback to develop and improve the assays.
A key, 'hands-on' training session offered by the IIVS each year is the ‘Practical
Methods for In Vitro Toxicology Workshop. The objective of these workshops is toteach basic techniques of choosing in-vitro tests, appropriate laboratory procedures,
data review and interpretation and how this is applied to the toxicological end pointsof the test(s). Comprehensive information, combined with hands on training and oneto-one interaction with expert supervisors enables attendees to use the assays withconfidence, back in their own laboratories.
The IIVS also continues its invaluable toxicity training webinars, most recently in
April 2015 on 'In Vitro 3T3 Phototoxicity Assay Practical Experiences: Assay
Optimization and Challenges', provided free as part of the IIVS Education service, toallow new and existing users of the assay to learn, provide feedback and encourage
discussion for best practice and improvement.
4.4

The Centre for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT-Europe)

CAAT-Europe is based at the University of Konstanz . A winner of the 2014 Lobbying
Prize, it was established in 2010 as the European branch of CAAT USA (located at
the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore). CAAT continues its ongoing mission topromote non-animal methods in research and education, by coordinating conference
events and training workshops. Their forthcoming 'Joint Information Day on Biology
Inspired Microsystems—Status and Future'16 will focus on recent advances to enable
the development of microfluidic ‘human-on-a-chip’ devices, to simulate organfunction and interaction on a microphysiological scale, enabling a new level ofphysiologically relevant assays.

15 http://www.iivs.org/
16

http://caat.jhsph.edu/programs/

Lush Prize for Training, 2015 – Research Paper

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4.5

Lush Prize conference activity 2014-2015

During the 2014-2015 Lush Training Prize cycle, the 9th World Congress on
Alternatives to Animal Use in the Life Sciences17 was held. Several key sessions
relevant to training and education included:• 3Rs in academic education, training programs and anticipated needs• Innovative training and teaching tools
These sessions each included several different presentations from international
speakers. For example: assessment of training needs and knowledge gaps forscientists in available alternative methods in Korea, India and Brazil; a review ofalternative tools and approaches to education and training; and successful
educational initiatives to replacing animals by use of simulators in veterinary student
training and computer software tools in pharmacology education18.
Whilst many sessions at the World Congress remain broadly linked to the 3Rs (forexample, some areas focus on the continued use of animals and sharing 'best
practices' in education and training) sessions can be selected which relate only to
the '1R' of replacement.
In September 2015, Lush Prize will also attend the 16th Congress hosted by theEuropean Society for Alternatives to Animal Testing (EUSAAT) in Linz19. Of
particular relevance to the Training Prize at EUSAAT 2015 is the ‘Practical Training
Course on Alternative Methods’20, which will be focusing on established in-vitro andex-vivo methods for assessing the eye irritation/corrosion hazard potential ofchemicals and finished products. The two day intensive training course is free ofcharge and open to all participants of the congress but especially to those“interested in gaining knowledge and practical experience on advanced non-animal
methods for toxicology testing”.

5Conclusion

The Training Prize continues to be an essential category of the Lush Prize, distinct
from the equally important Lobbying and Public Awareness prizes. Not only does theTraining Prize provide specific focus to the education and adoption of readily
available, non-animal methods (from the simplest models to the more complex invitro assays), they also give critical insight into how this varies globally and the workthat still needs to be done.

17

http://www.wc9prague.org/scientific-program/program-overview/
http://www.altex.ch/resources/153171_WC9_Theme_3.pdf
19
http://www.eusaat.org/
20
http://eusaat-congress.eu/index.php/congress/2015/2015-practical-training-course
18

Lush Prize for Training, 2015 – Research Paper

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Organisations active in training and providing educational
materials
6.1
Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW)
http://www.anaw.org/
Established in 2006 and based in Kenya, the ANAW has committed itself tospearheading a number of animal welfare of campaigns while building networks withgovernments, political leaders, media and other institutions to press for effective
policy and legislation changes and for the protection and care for animals at nationaland community level. ANAW partners with international bodies and institutions ofhigher learning to promote use of alternatives to animals in labs. ANAW wereawarded a Lush Training Prize in 2014.
6.2
The Alexandra Association, Monaco
http://www.alexandra-project.org
The Alexandra Association aims to develop and promote alternative methods toanimal research for both scientific and ethical purposes in both toxicity testing andmedical research. The founders of the association are experts in scientific researchand technical innovation. The organisation is a previous Lush Prize nominee,recognised for ongoing efforts in education and training in alternative methods,
including 'OpenSource' 3D Tissue Engineering in human tissue reconstruction andcell culture.
6.3
AltTox (Non-Animal Methods for Toxicity Testing)
http://www.alttox.org/
AltTox is a vital resource for anyone interested in animal-free science from a
research or training perspective. Alttox provides various levels of useful information,from basic descriptions of toxicity tests, up-to-date information on alternatives andnewsletters through to various tools and databases as well as information on
forthcoming courses and events.
6.4
The Alternatives Research & Development Foundation (ARDF)
http://www.ardf-online.org/
Established in 1993, The ARDF, based in the USA, awards research funds that
support the development, validation, and/or adoption of non-animal methods inbiomedical research, product testing, and education. ARDF aims to bring‘alternatives technology and compassion to modern laboratories and classrooms’.
6.5'Alternatives Toxicity Services' (ATS)
http://www.alternativetoxservice.com/Homepage.aspx
ATS is a contract company based in both Genoa and London which offers
companies high content screening services for evidence-based acute toxicity andneurotoxicity via a number of in-vitro tests, with the aim of promoting the principles of
the 3Rs. While it must be noted that the services provided are not all animal-free(some use rat and mouse primary cells or cell lines) human cell based tests are alsoavailable. ATS also provides training services in cell culture methods.

Lush Prize for Training, 2015 – Research Paper 10

6.6
Animal Aid
www.animalaid.org.uk
Animal Aid is one of the UK's most experienced and long-established animal rights
organisations, campaigning for animals on a number of issues, including an end toanimal testing. The education department at Animal Aid provides a school speakertraining service whose speakers are available to present and train volunteers on
animal testing. They can also provide educational materials for both teachers andpupils on request.
6.7
Animal Ethics Infolink
http://www.animalethics.org.au/education-and-training/alternatives-to-animal-use
Animal Ethics Infolink is an Australia-based online resource. While focus is broadly
across the 3Rs, the site provides useful information on training and educationmaterials in the replacement of animal testing
6.8
Animalearn
http://www.animalearn.org
Animalearn, based in the USA and a division of the American Anti-Vivisection
Society (AAVS), continues to promote its highly useful 'Science Bank' for alternatives
to animal use in education. The tool is an easy to use 'drop down' search facility on
the Animalearn website, to find resources by education level (from early school
stages through to medical training), type of animal or type of alternative (e.g. video,
computer simulation, models and more). Animalearn also rewards students andschoolchildren for their achievements in educating others on the choice to object todissection or question teaching curriculums that contain animal use.
6.9
CAAT- Centre for Alternatives to Animal Testing – John Hopkins
University
The CAAT is based in Maryland, USA. As well as its US site it has European
Headquarters at the University of Konstanz in Germany and operates Altweb, a
website dedicated to the 3Rs and dissemination of information on humane science toresearchers, students and educational staff. CAAT continues to provide workshops
and educational materials in alternative methods. To date, CAAT has provided thefollowing courses and events;◦ In-Vitro Medical Device Testing◦ Green Toxicology Information Day◦ Functional Non-animal Biobarrier Models in Research and Risk
Assessment◦ DNT4 (Alternatives in Developmental Neurotoxicity Testing)◦ Emergence of Systematic Review and Related Approaches in Toxicology an EBTC Workshop
6.10 Cruelty Free International (formerly known as BUAV)
https://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/

Lush Prize for Training, 2015 – Research Paper 11

Cruelty Free International is one of the leading campaigning organisations against
animal testing with successful undercover investigations exposing the hidden animal
suffering in laboratories. The BUAV provides a ‘Schools’ guide also aimed atstudents, to raise awareness and provide a truthful insight into the realities of animal
testing. They also produce a number of science reports providing further information.
6.11 DAAE (Doctors Against Animal Experiments)
http://www.aerzte-gegen-tierversuche.de
DAAE, based in Germany, is a charitable organisation of several hundred doctors
and scientists who work in the medical field. DAAE supports the immediate abolitionof all animal experiments on ethical and scientific grounds. In order to make the crueland unscientific nature of animal experiments public, they provide scientificallybased information on animal experiments both for doctors and scientists, as well as
for the general public. DAAE manage and update their own database to inform thepublic about the reality of animal experiments21 as well as a database on in-vitro
methods.
6.12 The Dr. Hadwen Trust (DHT)
http://www.drhadwentrust.org
The Dr Hadwen Trust (DHT) is the UK’s leading non-animal medical research charity
and a previous Lush Prize nominee, as well as funding a variety of research projects
on an ongoing basis. DHT has awarded seven ‘Summer Studentships’ in 2014 toyoung researchers to enable them to continue their work in replacements to animal
testing over the summer period. This year’s projects support a variety of new
methods into disease including Parkinson’s disease, cancer and diabetes. The DHT
launched the Summer Studentship scheme in 2012, to assist undergraduate
students in gaining practical, laboratory-based experience in research methods toreplace animals.
6.13 DsRAT - Dutch Society for the Replacement of Animal Testing
http://www.proefdiervrij.nl/
DsRAT supports scientists, entrepreneurs and the government in the development ofthese new techniques by providing educational materials, engaging in collaborations
and initiating discussions about animal free solutions to ensure the future
replacement of animal testing.
6.14 European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE)
http://www.eceae.org
The European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE) was formed in 1990 byorganisations across Europe to successfully campaign to ban cosmetics testing on
animals. Today, the ECEAE campaigns on all animal testing issues in Europe,bringing together extensive expertise, experience and knowledge from major
European animal protection organisations, working with politicians and scientists toensure that animals in laboratories are high on the European political agenda.
21

http://www.datenbank-tierversuche.de/Lush Prize for Training, 2015 – Research Paper 12

6.15 European Partnership for Alternatives to Animals Approaches
http://www.epaa.org
The EPAA is a collaboration between the European Commission, European tradeassociations, and industry who are “are committed to pooling knowledge andresources to accelerate the development, validation and acceptance of alternative
approaches to further the replacement, reduction and refinement (3Rs) of animal use
in regulatory testing.” (It must be noted that the 3Rs remit of the EPAA is particularly
broad in that, whilst 1R/replacements are highlighted, other initiatives include, forexample, awards to laboratory animal staff).
6.16 ESTIV (European Society of Toxicology In -Vitro)
http://www.estiv.org
ESTIV promotes in-vitro methods both scientifically and educationally acrossEurope. ESTIV held its 2014 congress in The Netherlands with a theme of 'Making
Sense of In-Vitro Methods'. Topics included long-term toxicity prediction using
computer models and integrated, non-animal testing strategies in skin sensitisation.
ESTIV also held a training course in January 2015 in Lisbon entitled 'Applied In-Vitro
Toxicology Course'22. ESTIV is sponsored by a number of major chemical andpharmaceutical companies, most recently Roche.
6.17 EURL-ECVAM (The European Union Reference Laboratory for
Alternatives to Animal Testing)
http://ihcp.jrc.ec.europa.eu/our_labs/eurl-ecvam
In June 2014, EURL-ECVAM released its 'Updated list of alternative test methods'
submitted to the organisation for validation and acceptance as alternative methods toanimal testing since 2008. EURL-ECVAM continues to organise a variety ofworkshops, courses and publish formal recommendations, as well as international
outreach projects, most recently hosting a visit by the Korean Research and Testing
Institute (KRT) to allow the KRT to gain insight into EURL ECVAM's approach
towards the development, validation and international recognition of alternative
methods to animal testing and to discuss best practices and main challenges withrespect to their scientific evaluation. EURL-ECVAM also manages and updates two
main databases, DB-ALM (Database for Alternative Methods) and TSAR (Tracking
System on Alternative Methods), which are listed separately in this Appendix.
6.18 EUSAAT- the European Society for Alternatives to Animal Testing
http://www.eusaat.org
EUSAAT has been documented in previous Lush Prize research. The EUSAAT
website was updated in 2014, to better serve all interested in alternatives to animal
testing. One of EUSAAT's key aims is 'promotion of the use of non-animal tests inthe area of education'.

22

http://www.estiv.org/docs/ESTIV_Training_InVitroTox.pdf?set=a.512417912102502.122630.42281
2001063094&type=1&l=27051111e7
Lush Prize for Training, 2015 – Research Paper 13

6.19 The Human Toxicology Project Consortium (HTPC)
http://www.humantoxicologyproject.org
The HTPC is a major collaboration to advance a new paradigm in toxicity testing andpathway-based approaches to chemical safety assessment. The HTPC is active inco-sponsoring (with the IIVS and HSI) ground breaking training programmes for
Chinese researchers in non-animal methods for cosmetics testing. HTPC also
provide a number of useful information resources including videos on newtechnologies, such as high throughput drug screening and the 'Virtual Liver'. The
consortium also communicates forthcoming events and training courses on it's
website.
6.20 Humane Society International (HSI)
http://www.hsi.org
The HSI continues its highly successful 'Be Cruelty Free Campaign', engaging withstakeholders in Asia to progress towards phasing out mandatory animal testing forcosmetics. HSI, along with it's sister organisation the HSUS (Humane Society of theUnited States) and The Human Toxicology Project Consortium, recently awarded an$80,000 grant to the Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS) to provide vitally needed,
hands-on training in non-animal tests to China’s government regulators andscientists.
6.21 The Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS)
http://www.iivs.org
The IIVS, a former Lush Prize winner and nominee continues its outstanding efforts
to disseminate free information via webinars and 'free to register' events and for its
ongoing work with Chinese authorities in the education, training and adoption of nonanimal methods to replace animal testing. The IIVS also continues to provide it'smuch needed 'Practical Methods in In Vitro Toxicology ' annual training courses.
6.22 INTERNICHE (International Network for Humane Education)
http:/www.interniche.org
A previous Lush Training Prize winner, Interniche produce a variety of educational
materials relevant to study of human medicine, veterinary research and the life
sciences and has led international efforts to implement the use of humane,alternative methods and teaching materials in education across a number ofcountries.
6.23 The Innovative Methods and Alternatives to Animal Research Unit,
Australia
The Innovative Methods and Alternatives to Animal Research Unit based at the John
Curtin Medical School at Australian National University23 supports researchers in'innovative methods to entirely replace the need for an animal model, or the
replacement of an animal product in an assay or procedure (e.g. animal derived
23
http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/research/research-facilities/innovative-methods-and-alternatives-animalresearch-unit

Lush Prize for Training, 2015 – Research Paper 14

antibodies for immunoassay)'. The Unit collaborates with a number of otheracademic centres in Australia, including the University of Sydney, specifically on a
project involving animal-free cell culture methods for malaria and vascular pathology
and Wollongong University's initiative to ' Replace Animals in Australian Testing'24
which aims to 'create a network of researchers and other individuals or groupsinterested in advocating non-animal based research and in strengthening theAustralian Government/NHMRC guidelines and their enforcement'
6.24 Joint Research Institute for Health and Consumer Protection (JRC)
https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/institutes/ihcp
The JRC 'Science Hub' collates a variety of information and forthcoming training
courses and events. In June 2014, the JRC launched an online tool to identify
chemicals useful for the development and validation of alternative methods to animal
testing. CheLIST is the first worldwide attempt to compile a cross-referenceable ‘listof substances lists’; its uniqueness consists of the combination of both regulatory
and scientific areas, and its openness to integrate new lists to be considered in the
database. For specific scientific, industrial or regulatory purposes chemicals aregrouped and included in various lists. The fact that a given chemical is included in a
specific list reveals many details about its properties. Easy access to suchinformation, which is typically scattered across numerous databases, project
websites and peer-reviewed literature, should facilitate the work of researchers
looking for the right reference chemicals to develop, characterise or validate tests asalternatives to animal-based testing.
6.25 Laboratory of Mathematical Chemistry (LMC)
http://oasis-lmc.org/products/software/toolbox/training.aspx
Winners of the 2014 Training Prize and headed by Prof Ovanes Mekenyan, the LMC
are the developers of the QSAR (Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship)
toolbox. The LMC continues to offer on-site training (on request), as well as regularannual training courses, organised in co-operation with stakeholders such as ICAPO
and REACH Monitor25.
6.26 LARF (The Analysis and Research Laboratory of Pathophysiology)
http://www.larf.unige.it
LARF, headed by Dr Anna Maria Bassi was a winner of the 2013 Training Prize.
LARF continues to devote its expertise to in-vitro, alternative methods of research
including human cell cultures, 3D organ toxicity and investigation of mechanisms ofcellular injury in disease e.g. cancer. LARF continues to organise training courses in24
http://lha.uow.edu.au/hsi/research/raat/index.html
25
http://www.reachmonitor.com/index.php?lang=2&aptd=4&id=38

Lush Prize for Training, 2015 – Research Paper 15

alternative methods for young scientists as the organisation firmly believes in thedissemination of knowledge and data sharing.
6.27 Mahatma Gandhi-Doerenkamp Center (MGDC)
http://www.mgdcaua.org/
The MGDC has remained active in its aim of educating the Indian scientificcommunity on the '3Rs' and alternative methods to animal testing.
6.28 National Anti Vivisection Society (NAVS) USA
http://www.navs.org
NAVS USA continues its campaign for compassionate science and education
without animal use, providing educational materials and scientific information on
alternative methods around the world.
6.29 National Anti Vivisection Society UK
http://www.navs.org.uk
NAVS UK continues to promote research projects via the Lord Dowding Fund.
Projects have included alternatives to the use of animals in education and funding forteaching of humane alternatives to university students.
6.30 The NC3Rs
http://www.nc3rs.org.uk
The NC3Rs selects and awards research grant funding to projects considered under
their '3Rs' (reduction, refinement, replacement) criteria.
6.31 NEAVS (New England Anti-Vivisection Society)http://www.neavs.org
As part of it's 'Ethical Science Education Campaign', NEAVS continues to provide anumber of educational outreach materials for schools and colleges, including posters
and brochures on animal testing and alternative methods.
6.32 Netherlands Knowledge Centre on Alternatives to Animal Use (NKCA)
http://www.nkca.nl
The NKCA promotes the application of the 3Rs in the Netherlands. The Centre is acollaboration between the RIVM (National Institute for Public Health) and the
University of Utrecht since 2010 and offers ‘animal testing alternatives’ modules aspart of postgraduate training for professionals. NKCA also advises teachers on the
animal-free testing models available for secondary schools, and recommends
animal-testing alternatives as a potential subject for student projects.
6.33 PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)
http://www.peta.org
PETA continues as one of the world's major animal rights organisations campaigningagainst animal testing, among many other issues. Most recently, and as highlighted
in previous Lush Prize papers, PETA has directly funded Chinese scientists inLush Prize for Training, 2015 – Research Paper 16

training in non-animal methods26 as well as a hugely successful campaign by PETA
India towards ending animal use in the national education curriculum. PETA's
International Science Consortium (PISC)27 promotes and funds non-animal
research methods and coordinates the scientific and regulatory expertise of its
members.
6.34 SAFE (Save Animals from Exploitation)
http://www.safe.org.nz
SAFE are a New Zealand based organisation and 2013 ‘Public Awareness’ LushPrize winner, promoting a number of educational materials. They also offer school
speaking services to educate and raise awareness on a variety of animal rights andwelfare issues, including animal experiments. For example, SAFE recently presented
at the 'Humane Education Symposium'.
6.35 SATIS- People for Animal Rights, Germany
http://www.satis-tierrechte.de/
SATIS continues to partner with Interniche to communicate a variety of educational
materials on replacement methods to animal testing and continues to provide its
information on national university rankings and Master's degree programmes. SATIS
also communicates on innovative new technologies in medical research training, forexample a training course in June 2014 on use of the 'RealSpine'28, a highly realistic
spine simulator for aspiring surgeons developed at the University of Leipzig. Juniordoctors from different hospitals train using the tool under the guidance ofexperienced surgeons. While previously practiced on animals, simulation systems
such as the ‘RealSpine’ are increasingly used. Training courses allow new surgeons
to familiarise themselves with the complex structures of the spine and to identify risk
structures in this area of the body, before any work on patients begins.
6.36 SEURAT-1 (Safety Evaluation Ultimately Replacing Animal Tests)
http://www.seurat-1.eu/
SEURAT-1 is an international scale collaborative project funded under the EU
Seventh Framework Programme (FP-7). The SEURAT-1 Symposium on future
animal-free safety assessment will take place on 4 December 2015 in Brussels29.
6.37 The Alternatives
http://thealternativeseu.wordpress.com/2013/08/16/thealternatives-eu-is-born/
The Alternatives is an Italy-based non-profit organisation launched in August 2013
which actively promotes alternatives to animal experiments by providing a variety of
information, scientific publications and its long term expertise in teaching human26
http://www.peta.org/blog/chinese-scientists-learn-non-animal-testing-thanks-peta/
27

http://www.piscltd.org.uk/
http://www.realspine.de/
29 http://www.seurat-1.eu/pages/library/events/seurat-1-symposium.php
28

Lush Prize for Training, 2015 – Research Paper 17based clinical research, as well as experience in engaging with educational
authorities and regulators on replacements to animal testing.

7

2015 courses and workshops

Below are some examples of forthcoming events, courses and workshops in 2015.
Other training courses and events are also listed within the updates for eachorganisation. This is not an exhaustive list and many other courses and events areavailable.
51 Congress of the European Societies of Toxicology (EUROTOX 2015)
September 13–16, 2015; Porto, Portugal[http://www.eurotox2015.com/]•

European Congresses on Alternatives to Animal Testing (EUSAAT)
September 20-23, 2015
Linz, Austria [http://www.eusaat-congress.eu/]
Lush Prize 2015: Conference and Awards Ceremony; London; 20th Nov 2015[www.lushprize.org]
3rd 'Animal Replacement Science 'Conference; (Date 12th November2015);
UK;Dr Hadwen Trust [http://www.drhadwentrust.org/]
The SEURAT-1 Symposium on future animal-free safety assessment will takeplace on 4 December 2015 in Brussels [http://www.seurat1.eu/pages/library/events/seurat-1-symposium.php]

•
•
•

8

st

•

Web-based educational tools and research databases

The following is a suggested list of databases, knowledge bases or software, plus
examples of educational tools in alternative methods, updated for 2015. (It is not an
exhaustive list).
8.1
AnimAlt ZEBET – database for alternative methods to animal
experiments
http://www.bfr.bund.de/en/animalt_zebet___database_for_alternative_methods_to_a
nimal_experiments-62822.html
The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) incorporates ZEBET, whichis the ‘Centre for the Documentation and Evaluation of Alternatives to Animal
Experiments’. It houses AnimAlt-ZEBET, a database aiming to provide scientists withinformation on alternative methods. It is accessible on the internet without licencefees in German and English and includes validated information on alternative
methods. ZEBET also developed a continuing education course, ‘Laboratory
Animals, Animal Experiments and Alternative Methods’, in 1992. Participation in thecourse is a “pre-requisite to the approval of an application for animal experiments”.
The course is offered as a “regular semester course at the Freie Universitaet Berlin”
Lush Prize for Training, 2015 – Research Paper 18

and is also available on a “monthly basis as a commercial training programme” inboth German and English.
8.2
The DataBase service on Alternative Methods, DB-ALM (EURL=ECVAM)
http://ecvam-dbalm.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
This database aims to “provide an overall picture on the state-of-the-art of alternative
methods in use at all stages of development, validation or regulatory acceptance fora given topic area in the form of method summary descriptions and/or more detailed
information to allow the transfer and use of a method by a laboratory”.
8.3
Data Infrastructure for Chemical Safety (DiXa)
http://www.dixa-fp7.eu/
The DiXa project states that “animal-based test models need to be replaced preferably by robust, non-animal assays which better predict human toxicity , areless costly, and are socially more acceptable”.
The project has a number of collaborators including JRC European Commission,
Maastricht University, Imperial College London and EMBL-EBI – a not-for-profit
organisation that provides freely available bioinformatics tools and services to the
public. DiXa has offered a considerable number of training courses (both on-site andonline) and workshops focussing on next generation 'omics' technologies and data
structures.
8.4 DEREK Nexus Toxicity Prediction Database
http://www.lhasalimited.org/products/derek-nexus.htm
DEREK is an expert toxicity prediction database pioneered by Lhasa Limited, a notfor-profit organisation and educational charity that facilitates collaborative data
sharing projects in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and chemistry-related industries.
8.5
Froguts
http://www.froguts.com/
An on-line virtual dissection which has been designed to give better understanding offrogs and other life forms by the use of instructional technology.
8.6
Go3R search engine
http://www.go3r.org/
This project, produced by Transinsight GmbH with ZEBET, aims to develop a“knowledge-based search engine for alternative methods to animal experiments”. It“provides an endpoint-centred semantic literature search for toxicological information(e.g. as required for REACH), highlights animal testing alternatives and organises 22
million abstracts listed in PubMed and TOXNET in an accurate table of contents,
enabling fast bibliometric analysis and promising more exhaustive and selective
recovery of relevant documents”.
8.7
Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association Alternatives in
Education (HSVMA)
http://www.hsvma.org/resources#humane_alternatives

Lush Prize for Training, 2015 – Research Paper 19

HSVMA offers a variety of educational and training materials including publications
and databases offering information on alternatives to animal use. They include theAlternatives in Education database, Alternatives Database and Humane Teaching
Methods resources, as well as others.
8.8
Sniffy the Virtual Rat
http://wadsworth.cengage.com/psychology_d/special_features/sniffy.html
An online 'virtual rat' simulation programme to aid student learning.
8.9
The Tracking System on Alternative Methods (TSAR - EURL-ECVAM)
http://tsar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
This database is “a tool aimed at providing a transparent view on the status ofalternative methods as they progress from purely scientific protocols submitted forpre-validation to being actively used in a regulatory context. This tracking system
intends to cover all steps, from the initial submission for pre-validation until final
adoption by inclusion in the EU legislation and/or related Guidance Documents,
when appropriate. TSAR was updated in June 2014 following release of the EURLECVAM updated list of alternative methods.
8.10 QSAR Toolbox
http://www.qsartoolbox.org/
This technical database is for researchers, government bodies, chemical industry
personnel and any interested stakeholders. The software works by groupingchemicals into categories in order to identify (and therefore fill) 'gaps' in ecotoxicity
data which are needed for a complete risk assessment of a substance. The tool
allows for entire categories of chemicals to be analysed, saving costs and animals
from being used in unnecessary testing. In its 'Support' section, the toolbox also
provides highly useful online training packages such as 'QSAR ToolBox Web
Training' and step-by-step guides for prediction of specific endpoints, e.g. skinsensitisation.

Lush Prize for Training, 2015 – Research Paper 20