Ask your U.S. Representative to support three bills to promote humane science
The first ever Cruelty Free Science Day highlighted cutting-edge non-animal testing technology for politicians and their staff at Washington DC’s Capitol building.
The event was held in conjunction with Rep Chris Pappas (NH-01), who is lead sponsor of the Humane and Existing Alternatives in Research and Testing Sciences (HEARTS) Act, which will encourage the use and development of humane, and effective alternatives to the use of animals in experiments funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Located in the foyer of the Rayburn House office building – one of the busiest areas of the Capitol – attendees were invited to learn about how three bills can advance humane and human-relevant science – the HEARTS Act, the Humane Cosmetics Act and the Companion Animal Release from Experiments (CARE) Act.
There was also a chance to meet six adorable beagles rescued from a research breeding facility!
Co-hosted by our Head of Public Affairs for North America, Monica Engebretson, and Laura Rego Alvarez, our Deputy Director of Science and Regulatory Affairs, the event featured information on cell-based methods and organs-on-a-chip from companies including the UK’s XCellR8, Ananda Devices, from Laval, QC, Canada, and Emulate, based in Boston, MA.
We were also joined by doctoral students from Johns Hopkins University who were on hand to talk about their work developing miniature brain models, known as organoids, to study neurotoxicity and neurodegenerative diseases.
Engebretson said, “What was remarkable about this event was that attendees could literally hold an organ chip in one hand while petting a beagle who was rescued from a laboratory in the other. Making that direct connection between cutting edge technology and the animal lives that can be saved by embracing modern science was powerful.”
Complementing Cruelty Free Science Day was our striking HEARTS Act street ads, on display at bikeshare stations across Capitol Hill this month. Some of the ads highlight our survey that revealed that 79% of voters think that the NIH should prioritize animal-free research. The ads urge legislators to, ‘Support the HEARTS Act to advance human health, drive innovation, and save animals’.
Watch our video about the HEARTS Act:
You can help to reinforce the messages of Cruelty Free Science Day by asking your U.S. Representative to support the three bills featured at the event.
Download three factsheets here.