Eligibility

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. Since 2019 the Lush Prize has become a biennial event.

 

Opening and closing dates for entries

 
Nominations for the next Lush Prize are due to open in August 2023.

Stay up to date about entry dates and other news by signing up for occasional email updates about the Prize:



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 Lobbying, Public Awareness (Current Projects), 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 2022 Prize, this means projects running in 2020 or 2021.

The Young Researchers and Public Awareness (Future Projects) awards are different, as they are 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 Lobbying, Science, Training and Young Researchers Prizes 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

 
In November 2022 we will hold a winners’ roundtable session, the Lush Prize 2022 Conference and Lush Prize 2022 Awards Ceremony. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all events will be held online.

If awarded a prize, recipients must:

  • attend the virtual award ceremony, unless there are exceptional circumstances
  • if requested, prepare a short presentation explaining the winning project for the Lush Prize Conference and a written version for publication on the website (full details will be provided of what is required),
  • participate in the discussions during the Lush Prize Conference and winners’ roundtable session,
  • fill in an evaluation form 6 months from the award being given,
  • support the PR activity for the Prize.

Eligibility guidelines

 
These guidelines set out ethical and scientific principles on which the Lush Prize is based and the nature of work that is rewarded. The Lush Prize is based on the 1R of replacement rather than refinement or reduction.

If you are considering on making a nomination in one of the science categories (Science, Training, Young Researcher) please read these guidelines first.

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, embryos, tissues, organs and serums. 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. The 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.

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.