Replacing Animal Research, in collaboration with The Humane Research Trust and the Centre for Human Specific Research, organised a conference in York earlier this year. The rationale behind the event was reflected in its title: ‘Best practice in non-animal research methods’. We wanted to provide an opportunity for researchers to come together, mingle with peers and be able to ask any questions. The range of experience in non-animal methods was as wide as possible — while some of the attendees had never used animals in their research, others were animal users and were curious about the potential of, and technicalities involved in, non-animal approaches. 

Creating a supportive environment through thoughtful design

The conference was quite small for a scientific meeting and efficient in terms of time away from work. That was intentional. We thought that by limiting the number of attendees, interactions would be promoted and researchers would have more time to get to know each other and be encouraged to open up about their current challenges. We are also aware that researchers are going through a difficult period, and committing to costly conferences or week-long events can be a barrier.  

Attendees reported it was a welcoming environment, and they had returned home with new ideas and/or potential solutions for technical hurdles they’d been facing. Scientific inclusivity was also mentioned. Even though most people were looking for ideas and networking opportunities in non-animal research, some attendees worked with animal models. It gave everyone an opportunity to be candid not only about the positives but also the challenges of non-animal research. Even the sponsors mentioned the attendees were among the most engaged they’d seen recently! 

Reflections from the conference

From my point of view, the conference was a success. It provided a platform for early-career and more established researchers to present their work, engage with peers, and gain exposure to a wide array of scientific topics that they might not have been familiar with.  

However, this is only my opinion, and I am slightly biased! Even if it was a success, we always want to do better. Did you attend? What did you think? If you did not attend this time but would be interested in a future event, do let us know! 

Keeping up momentum

It’s all very good for us to say things are going well and moving in the right direction. However, to achieve our goal of replacing animal research — we need you. We are here to help facilitate and support the process of replacing animal-based methods with suitable alternatives. You are the ones actually making it happen in the labs and through your various activities.

The conference showed us researchers value a space for both academic and personal development. It also showed how engaged this community is. If you have your own ideas on how we can help you make a difference to replacing animal research, please get in touch. We want to empower you to be able to choose a career without animal research.