On March 15th 2024, we received incredibly exciting news: the National Growth Fund has allocated \u20ac124.5 million (!) to a new initiative: the Center for Animal-Free Biomedical Translation (CPBT). This allocation is of great significance for animal-free research in the Netherlands.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> The funding was reserved in 2023, but it was officially allocated last Friday after approval of the revised proposal. This is groundbreaking news: with this money, a brand-new national center will be established, fully dedicated to accelerating the transition to animal-free research models. And such a center is much needed: in 2022, over half a million animals were still used in research.<\/p>\n<\/div> Leading the application was Wouter Dhert from Utrecht University, but he didn’t do it alone: other scientists, health funds, and companies contributed. And of course, Proefdiervrij also played a role.<\/p>\n The broad collaboration underlying the allocation of this amount makes Debby Weijers – director of Proefdiervrij – particularly enthusiastic: “This shows that more and more people share our vision. So, we are not only celebrating an incredibly generous amount that will be fully spent on animal-free research, but also that 63 partners in animal-free innovation are willing to invest. This demonstrates the level of support.”<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> The CPBT will be a national center focusing on accelerating research into biomedical innovations without the use of animals. Researchers will develop new animal-free methods and technologies to test the safety and efficacy of medicines and food products.<\/p>\n Debby Weijers will herself join the societal advisory board of the CPBT, which will also include representatives from science, government, and the pharmaceutical industry.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> And that’s promising. However, it’s important to keep the allocated amount in perspective. Debby Weijers: “The amount will be spread over ten years, while in 2022 alone, for example, \u20ac7.8 billion was spent on research and innovation. This doesn’t mean that \u20ac124.5 million for animal-free research is just a drop in the ocean. With this amount, we can really make progress towards an animal-free world, but it’s important to remember that much more money is still needed. What we are celebrating today is an interim result, not a final result.”<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> Moreover, more than just substantial amounts are needed for animal-free science. For example, we have long known that animals do not represent us well in research, yet choosing animal experiments remains a stubborn habit. According to Debby Weijers, education plays a key role. “If students learn to work with animal-free research methods during their education, they will also dare to rely on them later.”<\/p>\n And legislation often still obstructs animal-free science. As long as European laws require animal experiments and permits are granted for them, animal-free science is not yet possible. It’s therefore particularly great that regulatory authorities are also involved in the CPBT.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> But today, the focus is on the fact that the government has allocated an unprecedented amount for a center fully dedicated to animal-free science. This gives us hope that in the coming years, they will also help us create the other conditions needed to get all animals out of the lab.<\/p>\n After this fantastic news, now is the time to move forward. And with the European elections approaching, we will do this by calling on parliamentary candidates to sign a manifesto for animal welfare.<\/p>\nSupport<\/h2>\n<\/div>
A national center<\/h2>\n<\/div>
An interim result – not a final result<\/h2>\n<\/div>
Money is not enough<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>
Moving forward together<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>