The Alternatives in Research Challenge

The Alternatives in Research (AiR) Challenge is a program intended to stimulate innovative research that advances medical progress through the use of methods that do not involve animals. The program focus is on biomedical research, given that animal use in this area far exceeds that in safety testing and scientific education.

With guidance from our Scientific Advisory Committee, ARDF awarded grants of $20,000 each for diverse projects working with new methods addressing cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and autism.

Future phases of grant-making will build on that work and develop ARDF’s vision of research funding programs focused on a dual purpose of benefit for human health and advancement of non-animal research methods.

The AiR Challenge program is intended not only as a means of rewarding scientists, advancing biomedical progress, and sparing animals from suffering. It is also intended to help dispel the outdated notion that an interest in medical progress and a concern for animals are inexorably in opposition; indeed, finding better non-animal approaches to researching human disease is a win-win for humans and animals. In addition, ARDF seeks to broaden the understanding and appreciation for alternative methods, not only among scientists, but also among the general public, thought-leaders, media representatives, and patients and patient-advocates.