Scientists and campaigners are encouraged to submit nominations for an annual prize that has already awarded over one million pounds to ‘outstanding’ non-animal testing initiatives around the world. With £250,000 available, the Lush Prize, a collaboration between Lush Cosmetics and Ethical Consumer Research Association, is the largest annual global prize fund in the non-animal testing sector. 55 projects in 22 countries have already been supported, ranging from animal protection organisations in Taiwan and Russia to Sweden’s Karolinska Institute and the OECD’s Adverse Outcome Pathway programme in France.
Nominations for the 2016 Lush Prize will open on Monday 25th April, a day after World Day for Animals in Laboratories. The Prize supports initiatives to end the use of animals in toxicology (chemical testing) research and is divided into five categories: Science, Training, Young Researcher, Lobbying, and Public Awareness. Last year an additional award, the Black Box Prize, was given for key breakthroughs in human toxicity pathways research, specifically work conducted on the ‘skin sensitisation pathway’. Black Box winners receive the full £250,000 prize in addition to £200,000 that is divided between winners of the other five categories.
Nominations for the prize can be made online at www.lushprize.org and close on 24th July. A panel of expert judges from around the world meet in September and winners are awarded their prizes at a ceremony in London in November.