Scientists and campaigners are encouraged to submit nominations for an annual prize that has already awarded over one million pounds to ‘outstanding’ non-animal testing initiatives around the world. With £250,000 available, the Lush Prize – a collaboration between Lush Cosmetics and Ethical Consumer Research Association – is the largest annual global prize fund in the non-animal testing sector.
55 projects in 22 countries have already been supported, ranging from animal protection organisations in Taiwan and Russia to Sweden’s Karolinska Institute and the OECD’s Adverse Outcome Pathway programme in France.
Nominations for the 2016 Lush Prize will open on Monday 25 April, a day after World Day for Animals in Laboratories. The Prize supports initiatives to end the use of animals in toxicology (chemical testing) research and is divided into five categories: Science, Training, Young Researcher, Lobbying, Public Awareness.
Last year an additional award, the Black Box Prize, was given for key breakthroughs in human toxicity pathways research, specifically work conducted on the ‘skin sensitisation pathway’. Black Box winners receive the full £250,000 prize in addition to £200,000 being divided between winners of the other five categories.
Previous winners include 19 Young Researchers from nine countries, who each received £10,000 to support future careers in science without using animals or animal products. This year judges are particularly keen to reach Young Researchers in Asia and the Americas, where support for alternatives to animal testing can be lacking.
Lush Prize spokesperson Craig Redmond said:
“So far we have been able to award £1.2million to research that completely replaces animal testing, as well as campaign groups that highlight animal research as both cruel and scientifically unreliable.
We are excited to launch the Lush Prize 2016 with an increased focus on supporting young researchers, particularly in Asia and Americas. These young scientists need funding and encouragement to continue their careers in advancing superior, non-animal research and we can provide the platform for that.”
Nominations for the Prize can be made online at www.lushprize.org and close on 24 July. A panel of expert judges from around the world meet in September and winners are awarded their prizes at a ceremony in London in November.
