Alternatives to animal experiments

in biology, medicine, toxicology

September 24-25, 2020

ABOUT CONFERENCE

The Republican conference with international participation "Alternatives to animal experiments in biology, medicine, toxicology"
is devoted to modern methods and technologies which are used in international practice in order to replace animal experiments
in fundamental science, applied medical research and industrial toxicology.

The conference will give the opportunity to gain some new knowledge, to exchange experience and to interact with international experts in the sphere of alternatives development and implementation. The event will broaden the possibilities of "1R" principle realization
in Belarus, which is a modern ethic standard of biomedical research conduction and Life Sciences teaching.

Additionally, the subject of the conference is targeted to support 10 Sustainable Development Goals such as: "good health and well-being", "quality education", "clean water and sanitation", "decent work and economic growth", "industry, innovation and infrastructure", "reduces inequalities", "responsible consumption and production", "сlimate action", "life on land", "partnerships for goals".

"1R" PRINCIPLE

In 1959 scientists Russell and Burch developed "3Rs" concept for biomedical research, which is known as:

- replacement of highly-organized animals with low-organized ones or with alternatives;

- reduction of the number of animals which are used in experiments;

- refinement of an experiment using methods designed to eliminate pain and non-traumatic.

In 21st century in biology, medicine and toxicology we can see the shift of paradigm:
from "3Rs" principle to "1R" principle. The new paradigm is based on full replacement of animal experiments with alternatives because of some ethical, scientific and economic issues.

The World Health Organization and international biomedical community not only approve but also strongly recommend the use of alternative methods in scientific practice and education.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

The subject of the conference is targeted to realization of 10 Sustainable Development Goals.

Good health and well-being

Alternative models and methods allow to receive
more accurate results at the stage of preclinical
trials of new generation drugs as soon as possible.

Quality education

The use of different types of alternatives (models, mannequins, simulators) in educational process
gives the opportunity to study effectively, saving psychological and emotional health of students.

Clean water and sanitation

Animal-free research and training allow to use
water sustainably and also to keep working places clean and tidy.

Decent work and economic growth

Creation of centers for alternatives development will increase the number of highly qualified workplaces, providing employees with favourable working conditions.

Industry, innovation and infrastructure

The use of innovative technologies will improve product quality due to more effective assessment
of its safety.

Reduces inequalities

The use of alternatives will help to develop biomedical sphere in Belarus effectively, equally with other countries.

Responsible consumption and production

Switch to alternatives will ensure receiving of reliable and high-quality research results with less economic expenses and without harm to animals, people and environment.

Climate action

Replacement of animal experiments with alternatives will allow to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to provide the development of sustainable and healthy economy.

Life on land

Application of alternative methods will reduce anthropogenic burden on the Earth ecosystem, connected with breeding, transportation, keeping
of animals and utilization of their remains.

Partnerships for goals

Establishing of partnership with international
experts will help to develop the sphere of alternatives implementation in Belarus. This is important for strengthening of economic, social and ecological potential of our country.

CONFERENCE EXPERTS

Helena Kandarova

PhD, Senior Scientist at Center for Experimental Medicine of Slovak Academy of Sciences, Executive officer and owner of InVitroTox Consulting, Slovakia

Lena Smirnova

PhD, Research Associate at Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins University; Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University, USA

Nick Jukes

Coordinator of
the International Network
for Humane Education - InterNICHE, UK

Dilyana Filipova

PhD, Scientific Officer at "Doctors Against Animal Experiments", Germany

Tatsiana Hlinkina

Research associate of Scientific and Research Laboratory of BelMAPGE, certified expert in research ethics, Belarus

Valerya Sokolchik

PhD, the Head of the Republican Center of Bioethics, supervisor of PhD Course,
vice-chief of the Committee
on Bioethics of the Republic
of Belarus

Ludmila Loginovskaya

Master of Pedagogy, director of ecological and cultural educational institution "Center for the Ethical Attitude Towards Nature", Belarus

CONFERENCE PROGRAM

Under development ...

Photo gallery

TO PARTICIPATE

We invite you to participate in the Republican conference with international participation "Alternatives to animal experiments in biology, medicine, toxicology" which will take place on 24 – 25 September, 2020 in Minsk.

The conference is conducted for:

heads and employees of research institutions and laboratories;
members of ethical committees;
heads of universities departments, teachers;
biologists, human and veterinary doctors;
IT professionals, ethics and law experts;
representatives of non-governmental organizations;
master students, PhD students, doctoral students;
final year students profiled in Life Sciences.

Forms of participation in the conference:

intramural (with or without an oral presentations);
extramural.

Working languages: Russian, Belarusian, English with translation.

For participation you need to send an application form till 01.06.2020 on the e-mail bioethics.belarus@gmail.com.
The invitations will be sent via e-mail till 03.09.2020.

The participation in the conference is free of charge. Transport and living expenses in Minsk are covered by sending party.

It is planned to give certificates at the closing of the meeting and to publish the Abstract Book as a result of a conference.

Download the application form (DOCX)

Welcome letter (PDF)

ABSTRACTS
We ask you to send the abstracts till 01.06.2020 on the e-mail bioethics.belarus@gmail.com
The publication of abstracts in the Abstract Book is free of charge.
The requirements to the abstracts format are presented on the link (PDF)

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

We invite you to give an oral presentation on the following topics:

1. Alternatives to animal experiments:

in basic research;
in toxicological testing;
in applied biomedical researches;
in education.

2. Problems of animal use in experiments and their replacement
with alternative methods: ethical, legal and scientific aspects.

To give an oral presentation you need to send a filled-in application form and abstracts till 01.06.2020. The most interesting and topical reports will be chosen by the organizing committee for an oral presentation and included in the conference program. We ask the speakers to send their presentations in PowerPoint or PDF.

Send all the materials to the e-mail: bioethics.belarus@gmail.com

Deadlines:

Application form –
till 01 June, 2020

Abstracts –
till 01 June, 2020

Presentation –
till 18 September, 2020

Timing of speech,
to choose from:

15 minutes speech
+ 5 minutes discussion;

20 minutes speech
+ 10 minutes discussion;

30 minutes speech
+ 10 minutes discussion.

ORGANIZERS

The Republican Center of Bioethics

Belarusian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education

Ecological and cultural educational institution "Center for the Ethical Attitude Towards Nature"

WITH THE SUPPORT OF

The Ministry of Health
of the Republic of Belarus

Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT),
Johns Hopkins University, USA

Business partner of the Conference

BRONZE SPONSOR

Doctors Against Animal Experiments - is German association
of doctors and scientists, which supports the abolition of all animal experiments on ethical and scientific grounds, providing scientifically based information for doctors, scientists and the general public and supporting animal-free research.