What do you consider important regarding the improvement of health and safety research for people, animals and the environment? What is the extent of your knowledge about animal-free research and animal testing? What do you feel is important to know? How would you prefer to be informed? These were the questions addressed during our Animal-Free Research Helpathon, organised on 4 and 5 November in partnership with the Meneer de Leeuw agency.
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Intensive days with beautiful stories
During this twelfth edition of the Helpathon, over 30 participants worked to answer these questions with the help of various experts. In the course of two days, they produced some wonderful stories using a range of approaches. Stories our TPI team will be putting to good use to improve how we explain the pros and cons of animal-free research and animal testing. The stories also made it clearer which topics people care about most.
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Everyone’s an expert
Although the participants came from a range of backgrounds, they had in common the fact that they had never been involved in animal testing or animal-free research, neither professionally nor in their private lives. Also, they were curious about the topic and eager to discuss it with the other participants and experts. Meneer de Leeuw’s Helpathon team ensured an interactive, safe setting to come up with creative ideas.
After the participants had been given the opportunity to get to know each other in groups on the first day, experts provided extensive information on the use of animals in scientific research and on animal-free innovations. Any remaining questions among the participants were collected and answered by the experts the next day.
On the second day the professional experts and participants joined forces, working in groups to apply their perspectives, creativity and knowledge to telling stories about the transition to animal-free innovation. At the end of the night, all the groups gave creative and engaging presentations of these stories.
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Why did TPI organise this event?
We organised this Helpathon with the aim of finding ideas to help us accelerate the transition to better research without test animals. We believe that not just the voices of biomedical and safety research professionals deserve to be heard, but also those of people affected by such research due to the impact on their own health and safety.
The Helpathon took place at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature in The Hague.
Image: TPI
Follow-up
The TPI team will be putting the Helpathon results to good use. Thanks to the insights we gained during these two days, we can provide people with better information. And hopefully, enable a more effective dialogue with the public on animal-free research.
Image: TPI
Word of thanks
We are grateful to all the participants for their stories, hard work, creativity and enthusiasm.
Experts: Bas Blaauboer, Cyndi Kunne, Jeffrey Bajramovic, Katja Wolthers, Martijn Nolte, Merel Ritskes-Hoitinga and Terry Vrijenhoek.
Design, organisation and facilitation by the Meneer de Leeuw agency: Pepik Henneman, Sue Gibbs, Jan de Dood, Dries Gysels and Ben Nieuwestein.