Science

Nominations for 2020

 
The Science Prize is open to individuals, research teams or institutions for work most likely to lead to practical non-animal tests which could be accepted by regulators.

The Prize is seeking projects most likely to lead to practical non-animal tests which could be accepted by regulators. We think the most promising approaches include:

  • adverse outcome pathways
  • organs on chips, and
  • computational toxicology

Lush Prize is also particularly interested in human relevant adverse outcome pathways for systemic toxicology or developmental toxicology.

For the 2020 Prize, nominated projects must have been running in 2019 or 2020.

Science Prize funding is £50,000.

 

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.

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.
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.

You can see the Full Eligibility Guidelines and Requirements here. If you have any queries, please contact us.