We played a prominent role at the 13th World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences (WC13), held in Rio de Janeiro from 31 August to 4 September.
The Congress is the largest global forum for advancing humane and innovative science, bringing together researchers, regulators, policymakers and NGOs from around the world, and we were proud to support it as a sponsor.
Our Deputy Director of Science and Regulatory Affairs, Laura Alvarez, and Head of Public Affairs (North America), Monica Engebretson, represented us at the event.
They participated in events throughout the programme, with three talks and seven information posters, and also co-chaired two sessions on key topics including our Replace Animal Tests (RAT) list, EU statistics on animal use, the welfare impact of gavage procedures, the use of two species in pharmaceutical toxicity testing, international regulatory harmonisation, the Humane and Existing Alternatives in Research and Testing Sciences (HEARTS) Act, the American Bar Association’s resolution on animal testing, and the role of non-animal testing methods in achieving the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
We also had a strong presence in the exhibition space, where our booth attracted steady interest throughout the week. Our materials were picked up quickly and sparked valuable conversations with delegates. Through the booth and our programme contributions, we strengthened existing partnerships, built new contacts, and received encouraging feedback on our work – particularly our RAT list.
While in Rio, Laura and Monica also visited O Boticário, one of our Cruelty Free International approved brands in Brazil, stopping by a local store and meeting with staff to learn more about their commitment to cruelty free beauty.
The momentum generated at WC13 has already opened the door to new collaborations and demonstrated the value of our science-led approach in accelerating the transition to non-animal approaches, reinforcing our role in driving global progress.
Monica said, “We were honored to be one of the sponsors of such an important and successful event, and were delighted with the reaction to our presentations, posters and conversations. Being able to share our groundbreaking work with so many people from around the world is a fantastic opportunity to influence work already being done, and inspire new initiatives that could save millions of animals from suffering in laboratories. The sharing of knowledge and best practice is vital if we are to end animal testing across the globe.”
We couldn’t participate in these events without your support. Please help us continue our work against cruel and unnecessary animal testing by donating below.