We hope you had a great time at Toekomstproef on November 15 and that the afternoon inspired you to contribute (even more) to the transition to a world without animal testing. Do you have questions about a collaboration or are you curious about the photos that were taken during the event? Then scroll down quickly!

The scientists of the future

Last November 15, the future of science was central during our Toekomstproef event in Utrecht. Young researchers Patrick Mulder, Henrique Pinto and Giulia Moreni prove day in, day out that this future is animal-free and that is why they were nominated for the Hugo van Poelgeest Prize, a recognition for innovative animal-free research in the life sciences.

Giulia ultimately won the jury and audience prize. Her research with human stem cells provides more insight into the course of viral infections and opens the doors to personalized treatments – a huge step forward for human-oriented science.

On this page we share the photos taken during the event and we would like to point out our collaboration opportunities and newsletter.

Giulia wins Hugo van Poelgeest Award 2024

Pictures taken at Toekomstproef 2024

Photography by PurebyLysan

The Hugo van Poelgeest Award

The Hugo van Poelgeest Award is the oldest Dutch prize for animal-free scientific research. Mrs. van Poelgeest-Spatkova wanted to honor her late husband Hugo van Poelgeest with this prize. He dedicated his entire life to animal welfare.

In the past, the prize was awarded every four years by the Stichting Bouwstenen voor Dierenwelzijn. Since 2019 we have been part of the organization and the prize is henceforth awarded every two years. We now focus on the new generation of scientists, to inspire them to continue working with animal-free models.

What you can do for a lab animal-free world

During Toekomstproef you saw that a world without animal testing is closer than you think. By recognizing and celebrating successes, we create a positive environment that motivates everyone to continue. Do you want to know what you can do to contribute to a world without animals? Here are some tips!

Apply animal-free alternatives where possible
Educate students and colleagues about the benefits of animal-free models and how they can be applied in research. Interested in organizing a lecture with us? Contact us!
Share your knowledge and resources with other scientists involved in the development of human-centered methods, to promote progress.
Use databases to see if there is an animal-free alternative that you can use in your research; such as FCS-free.org and NAT-database.org.
Participate in the Proefdiervrij Venture Challenge: Do you have a good idea for an animal-free research model, but could you use some help setting up your own company? During the Proefdiervrij Venture Challenge, you will receive personal coaching and have the chance to win a sum of money to further develop your impactful company.
Work with us. We finance your animal-free research, but also offer you a network of passionate pioneers in science. Want to know more about the collaboration possibilities? Click here!

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