Eligibility & AI Policy

The prize is for projects, organisations, institutions or individuals focussed on ending the use of animal testing or for research into non-animal tests, or promoting the use of non-animal tests.

Opening and closing dates for entries

 
Nominations for the 2026 Lush Prize are now open and will close on Friday 28th November 2025.
 

Who can enter

 
You can enter yourself or your own organisation – please note that we do not accept nominations on behalf of other people or organisations other than for the Political Achievement recognition award.
 

Location

 
We will accept nominations from anywhere in the world, for projects which have taken place anywhere in the world.
 

Consecutive years and affiliates

 
No organisation will receive an award for two prize cycles in a row. This normally includes affiliate groups such as departments of the same organisation in different countries.

This does not apply to Young Researcher nominations. If you are unclear whether this applies to your organisation please contact us.
 

Timescales

 
The Political Advocacy, Public Awareness, Science and Training awards are all retrospective, that is they should have been running in the year preceding the prize award, or in the year of the award itself. For the 2026 Prize, this means projects running in 2024 or 2025.

The Young Researchers award is different, as it is to fund future research or projects.

For the Black Box Prize, research should have been completed and published within 5 years prior to the award.

 

Replacing animal experiments

 
The Political Advocacy, Science, Training and Young Researchers Prizes, Best Health Charity Project and Best Major Science Collaboration Awards are ‘1R rather than 3R prizes’. In other words we are seeking nominations from those working on replacing, rather than reducing or refining animal experiments.  An explanation of 3R’s can be found here on the NC3Rs website.
 

Requirements for winners

 
If awarded a prize, recipients must:

  • aattend the award ceremony, unless there are exceptional circumstances,
  • participate in the discussions during the winners’ roundtable session and the Lush Prize Conference (if one is held that year),
  • fill in an evaluation form 6 months from the award being given,
  • support the PR activity for the Prize.

 

Eligibility guidelines

 
1. The overriding aim of the Lush Prize is to reward individuals, groups or organisations who are working hard and doing most to find and push forward replacements to non-human animal testing in toxicology. Naturally therefore, the aim is that this money will be channelled towards those who aren’t involved in the use of animals.

2. Non-animal research in this sense means no use of non-human animals (including all vertebrates and invertebrates) or primary animal cells, or non-human animal-derived materials (tissues, sera, cells, embryos, antibodies, cornea, etc). Human biology-based approaches are strongly encouraged, although the use of established cell lines of non-human animal origin shall not necessarily be excluded.

3. The prize money shall be ring-fenced for non-animal use so that it cannot be used to fund any animal testing whatsoever.

4. Young Researcher bursaries are intended solely for non-animal use, though we will not put any constraints on the institution at which the young researcher uses this funding.

5. In awarding the prize to academic institutions, priority will be given to research teams or groups which deal exclusively with non-animal research.

6. The prize aims particularly to reward those working in areas where funding is tight and these areas may be given priority. However, applications from large commercial organisations, including those with involvement in animal testing, will be considered from individuals or teams working within these organisations if they are solely focussed on replacement work. Priority will be given to those with a clear commitment to an open-source policy/approach towards the sharing of techniques once developed.

7. In rewarding organisations involved in Training, priority will be given to those with a strong focus on replacement and not reduction or refinement.

8. Any organisation which does not quite fit these eligibility guidelines is welcome to nominate themselves if they feel they can provide a strong rationale for why we should consider them. Personal statements from individuals on their own position on animal testing will prove useful in such cases.

 

Policy on the use of AI in prize nominations

 
Lush Prize accepts that generative AI is becoming commonly used in application processes everywhere. Whilst we would prefer to read about your work in your own words, we will not reject nominations written with the use of AI tools. We do however ask that applicants consider the following five points:

1. Transparency
Please disclose the use of any generative AI tools in your application, except when used for language translation and/or improving the quality of English. There is a tick box at the start of our nomination forms asking you about this.

2. Generic content
AI tools often produce generic content or use buzzwords that don’t capture why your project is unique and important. This can reduce your chances of becoming shortlisted. Text can also become bland and repetitive, and it can be obvious to readers that use of AI is the cause. It’s worth checking for this.

3. Accuracy
AI tools are known to be prone to occasional ‘hallucinations’. Please ensure that any content generated by AI tools is thoroughly reviewed for accuracy.

4. Privacy
AI tools, especially free ones, may store data you input. This could compromise confidentiality for you or your organisation.

5. Environmental impact
AI tools require large amounts of energy and fresh water to power their data centres. Estimates suggest that ChatGPT can consume up to 90 times more energy per query than a conventional search. AI tools are best used only where they can significantly improve the quality of your nomination.
 

 
Ethical Consumer Research Association (the partner with Lush in the Prize) will conduct due diligence research on individuals and institutions prior to recommending the award of prizes.

Any issues that may arise will be discussed openly with the candidate. It will be helpful if candidates flag up any potential concerns in advance.

If you have any queries, please contact us.

Other unanticipated ethical concerns will be considered on a case by case basis.