The public award “Alternatives for Animal Experimentation”

On Saturday 19 April 2008 the Dierenbescherming (Animal Protection) awarded the public’s prize for alternatives for animal experiments in cooperation with the Nationaal Centrum Alternatieven voor Dierproeven (National Centre for Alternatives for Animal Experiments - NCA). 

Five biomedical researchers were nominated, including Jeffrey Bajramovic, representing the Unit Alternatives at BPRC. In his presentation he emphasized the work that is being done to replace complete Freund’s adjuvant.  Other nominations were: Hans van Leeuwen and Marjolein van Driel from the Erasmus University Rotterdam (Development of a model for research into spread of cancer into bones), Menk Prinsen of TNO Zeist (use of eyes from carcasses as alternative for a rabbit model in enucleated-eye-test), Gert Flik of the Radboud University in Nijmegen (in vitro bone research into fish scales) and Abdoel El Ghalbzouri of the LUMC in Leiden (in vitro models for the therapy of skin cancer), providing for a strong competition.

After the researchers’ presentations the public voted for who should receive this prize.  In a neck-and-neck race, Abdoel El Ghalbzouri was awarded the first prize, and the unit Alternatives second prize.  This runner-up position is welcome confirmation of the  serious contribution BPRC makes to research on Alternatives to animal experimentation, and endorses the BPRC commitment  to these activities.