SHAPE Approaches to Animal Experimentation Transitions

Animal experimentation is currently ubiquitous in biomedical and many other types of research. Well-recognized concerns include problems with translation of results to humans and the pain/suffering experienced by these animals. Despite increasing advocacy for replacements, including regulatory support and large investments, systematic consideration of how widespread replacement of animal experimentation could occur have been limited. 

Such transitions require not only new technologies, and methods, and advocacy for them, but approaches and perspectives from the SHAPE fields (Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts for People and the Economy) to explore changing scientific and social cultures, rethink roles and responsibilities, modify standards and regulations, and engage society. New approaches to animal experimentation (sometimes termed NAMs) will fail without deeper understandings of current practices and proposed alternatives in their broader sociocultural, institutional, and scientific contexts.

This network aims to foster collaborations amongst researchers, practitioners, policymakers, NGO members, and others interested in these approaches and questions, and in using interdisciplinary approaches to collaboration with diverse interested parties. We are seeking to contribute to the scaffolding necessary for supporting transitions in animal research, and producing critically important knowledge and actionable analysis in real time, leading to targeted, evidence-based, and effective uses of alternatives to animal experimentation.

We represent research organizations in the Netherlands, UK and Portugal.