As many as 9 out of 10 drugs developed with animals, do not work on humans. Not surprising, of course, because an animal body is different from a human body. Yet animal testing is the norm within scientific research. It must and can be done differently.
That is why today we are launching our new campaign ‘Animal testing is outdated’. Together with our animal-free scientists, this campaign shows that a world without test animals is better for humans and animals.
- Meet ex-labanimal LolaÂ
- Stop animal testing, start human-based research
- The government has to trust animal-free researchÂ
- Sign our petition!
Meet ex-labanimal Lola
Meet Lola. You wouldn’t know it when you see her happy face, but this beagle is an ex-labanimal. Before she was rehomed, months of painful and stressful experiments were performed on her to discover and test (new) drugs. Often with no results.
Fortunately for Lola, that’s in the past: she’ll enjoy the rest of her life in a warm home with a kind owner. Unfortunately, that doesn’t apply to the thousands of other laboratory animals that spend their days in the lab.
Stop animal testing, start human-based research
Many things that are possible today, are things we could’ve only dreamed of last century. Space travel, self-driving cars, AI… but then why are animals still being used in research? As far as we are concerned, animal testing is no longer appropriate for the time we live in.
Scientists Abdoel El Ghalbzouri and Katja Wolthers, two researchers who have been working for animal-free innovation for years, agree.
Katja Wolthers is a clinical virologist and conducts research on the development and progression of viruses in humans. For this she uses human material, as this gives her better results. Katja: “Our models have the same properties as, for example, our intestines or lungs and make animal testing unnecessary and virus research even better.”
Abdoel El Ghalbzouri is a researcher at Leiden University Medical Center and has been using and developing non-animal skin models throughout his career. Abdoel: “In the past, mice were used to do research on skin cancer, for example. Now I use the tumor removed from the patient and donated for research. We keep the tumor alive in the laboratory and recreate skin cancer. We then do research on that.”
Politicians must trust animal-free innovation
Animal-free research is no longer in its infancy. Instead it’s in its starting blocks. But to really make a difference, we need trust. Trust and confidence in animal-free innovation and in a policy that is actually implemented.
Now is the time for the government to take the first step: no more words, but deeds. By actively promoting animal-free alternatives, the government will send a signal to our society that they’re addressing this unnecessary animal suffering.
What do we want from the government?
- Invest in animal-free innovation: Make sufficient funds available and encourage researchers, educational institutions and companies to develop and use animal-free alternatives.
- Make higher education animal-free: Stop the use of labanimals in education and give students more focus on animal-free alternatives.
- Prevent more animal testing through European regulations: Ensure that new European laws do not require additional animal testing and instead encourage the development and use of non-animal methods.
- Stop immediate licensing of unnecessary animal testing: End animal testing for which proven alternatives are available or no longer necessary.
- Raise awareness of non-animal testing opportunities among researchers: Launch an awareness campaign to highlight the possibilities of using non-animal innovation within European legislation.
Will you join us in calling on the government to invest in animal-free alternatives?