Organizations listed here provide informational resources as a significant part of their mission. We invite your suggestions for additions and changes.

Alternatives Research & Development Foundation (ARDF)
The Alternatives Research & Development Foundation was established in 1994 (before 1994 it was known as The Demeter Fund) to support the development of alternatives to the use of animals in biomedical research, testing, and education.

American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS)
A nonprofit association of persons and institutions professionally involved with the production, care and study of laboratory animals, AALAS provides for the exchange of scientific information on all phases of laboratory animals and their welfare through educational activities and certification programs. AALAS promotes the humane care and treatment of laboratory animals through educational programs, publications, and certification activities. AALAS publishes the scientific journal Laboratory Animal Science, the magazine Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science, a booklet, Audiovisual aids for Laboratory Animal Science, and the AALAS Training Manuals.

AltWeb  Alternatives to Animal Testing : Refinement, Reduction, Replacement

American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners (ASLAP)
ASLAP, which is open to veterinary students and members of the American, Australian and Canadian veterinary medical associations, seeks to disseminate knowledge and provide training with research aims. ASLAP publishes a newsletter and directory.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC)
AWIC is an information center for the following subjects: proper care and use of laboratory animals, alternatives to animal testing, training materials for laboratory animal personnel and investigators using animals, improved and refined research methodologies, animal care and use committees, and other areas pertinent to animal welfare.

Animal Welfare Institute (AWI)
AWI is a non-profit charitable organization founded in 1951 that seeks to reduce the pain and distress experienced by animals used in research. One specific goal is to see the full implementation of alternatives (the Three Rs, refinement, reduction, and replacement of animals) implemented in research and testing.

Animals in Medicines Research Information Centre (AMRIC)
AMRIC (Animals in Medicines Research Information Centre) is an information office set up by the pharmaceutical industry to provide information about the role of animals in the development of medicines. AMRIC is part of the ABPI (Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry), the trade association whose member companies between them innovate, develop and manufacture more than 80 percent of the medicines prescribed under the NHS.

Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC)
AAALAC accreditation is voluntary and is sought by many types of research facilities, including those using non-regulated species. Accreditation represents an added commitment to high quality research animal care and assures scientists and administrators with an independent, rigorous assessment of their organization's animal care and use program. Maintenance of AAALAC accreditation is affirmation of an animal program's accountability and its efforts to promote ethical practices in the care and use of animals. Accreditation encourages a consistent standard of animal care and use, while supporting individual scientific needs.

Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights (AVAR)
The AVAR actively works for all nonhuman animals by educating the public and the veterinary profession about a variety of issues concerning nonhuman animal use. The AVAR's Alternatives in Education Database contains thousands of entries of alternatives to the use of animals for many levels of education. AVAR publishes the newsletter AVAR Directions and a newsletter for veterinary students, Alternatives in veterinary medical education.

Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Training (ANZCCART)
ANZCCART provides leadership in developing community consensus on ethical, social and scientific issues relating to the use of animals in research and teaching. ANZCCART publishes proceedings of their scientific meetings, scientific publications, a series of fact sheets, and a newsletter, ANZCCART News.

Canadian Council on Animal Care/ Conseil Canadien de Protection des Animaux
CCAC is a national, voluntary peer review organization founded in 1968 to safeguard the well-being of experimental animals used in research, teaching, and mandatory testing. Cofunded by the Canadian Medical Research Council and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, CCAC is composed of organizations from academic, government, industry, laboratory animal science and animal welfare.

Computer-Aided Learning in Veterinary Education (CLIVE) Consortium
Launched 1 December 1993 CLIVE is funded for three years by the UK Higher Education Funding Councils. All materials funded will be made freely available worldwide. CLIVE includes all six of the UK universities with veterinary schools. CLIVE's effort coincides with revisions in the UK curriculum, which are moving toward more self-directed study. It aims to cover all parts of the curriculum, but specially those where exchange of course materials with other groups in medicine and biology is less possible, as in the clinical years.

Eurogroup for Animal Welfare
Eurogroup was set up in 1980 with the aim to influence and promote the introduction of European Union (EU) animal protection legislation, with member organisations in all EU Member States. As a European Federation of Animal Protection Organisations, Eurogroup works towards the introduction, implementation and enforcement of legislation on the protection of animals in the European Union.

European Biomedical Research Association (EBRA)
EBRA is an association of individuals and organizations in the scientific, medical and veterinary communities in the countries of the Council of Europe. EBRA was established to promote public understanding of the importance of animals in medical and veterinary research and safety testing. EBRA publishes a European bulletin about the use of animals in biomedical research and testing, and maintains statistics on European animal use.

European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM).
The Commission of the European Union established ECVAM to encourage research into the development of alternative techniques that will provide the same level of information as that obtained in experiments using animals, but which involve fewer animals or entail less painful procedures. ECVAM coordinates the validation of alternative test methods at the EU level, acts as a focal point for the exchange of information on the development of alternative test methods, manages a database on alternative procedures, and promotes dialogue among the legislatures, industries, consumer organizations, biomedical scientists, and animal welfare groups, with a view to the development of alternative test methods. ECVAM workshops review the current status of various types of tests and their potential uses and identify the best ways forward. ECVAM symposia will deal with wider issues, such as the practical aspects of validation.

European Resource Centre for Alternatives in Higher Education (EURCA)
The eurca activities include the eurca Resource Centre – a collection of technological alternatives and 3D models is taken to relevant scientific meetings to be demonstrated in a ‘drop-in advice’ centre for interested delegates; dissemination activities, including producing a newsletter, attending scientific conferences, giving poster- and oral presentations, and most importantly the website, which contains an information-rich database of alternatives, demonstration versions, a news and bulletin board, evaluations and independent reviews (commissioned by eurca).

Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC).
The FAWC is an independent advisory body established by the UK government in 1979. Its terms of reference are to keep under review the welfare of farm animals on agricultural land, at market, in transit and at the place of slaughter; and to advise the Government of any legislative or other changes that may be necessary.

Foundation for Biomedical Research (FBR).
FBR represent the scientific community on the issue of humane care and treatment of laboratory animals. The mission of FBR is to provide the public with scientific facts regarding the need for continued humane and responsible use of animals in biomedical research, education, and product safety testing. Its role includes public education, including provision of educational materials to the general public, the media, students, and the research community. FBR develops educational and training materials for researchers who use animal models.

Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experimentation (FRAME).
FRAME is a charitable trust, founded in 1969, and is controlled solely by up to six honorary trustees, who employ scientific and administrative staff to work in five main areas, namely:scientific research;publications and information services; legislative and regulatory reform; specific campaigns; and public education. FRAME publishes the scientific journal Alternatives to Laboratory Animals: ATLA and monographs, such as The Use of Non-Human Primates as Laboratory Animals in Great Britain.

Institute for Laboratory Animal Resources (ILAR).
A component of the National Research Council, ILAR develops and makes available scientific and technical information on laboratory animals and other biologic research resources. Guidelines developed by ILAR form a basis for institutional and governmental policies on animal care and use. ILAR publishes monographs and a quarterly journal, ILAR Journal.

International Foundation for Ethical Research (IFER).
Founded in 1985 to promote the discovery, development and implementation of viable, scientifically valid alternatives to the use of live animals in research, testing and education, IFER seeks to fulfill its mission through research grants, publications, workshops, seminars and symposia. IFER focuses on the four Rs, refinement, reduction, replacement, and responsibility--to both human and nonhuman animals.

International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE).
Formed in 1966 as the Society for Veterinary Ethology, ISAE expanded rapidly to cover all applied aspects of ethology and other behavioral sciences which are relevant to many human-animal interactions such as farming, wildlife management, pet-keeping, and pest control. Publications include the scientific journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science.

Japanese Society for Alternative to Animal Experiments (JSAAE).
Publishes AATEX - Alternatives to Animal Testing and Experimentation

Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT).
CAAT seeks to foster the development of scientifically acceptable in vitro and other alternatives for use in the development and safety evaluation of commercial and therapeutic products; catalyze the development of alternative methods and encourage their use where appropriate while continuing to ensure the health of the public; and disseminate scientifically correct information about alternatives, their uses, advantages, and limitations.

Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University
The Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Institute of Ethics, established at Georgetown University in 1971, is a teaching and research center offering ethical perspectives on major policy issues. It is the largest university based group of faculty members in the world devoted to research and teaching in biomedical ethics and other areas of applied ethics. The Institute also houses the most extensive library of ethics in the world, the National Reference Center for Bioethics Literature; produces bibliographic citations relating to bioethics for the online databases at the National Library of Medicine; and conducts regular seminars and courses in bioethics.

Laboratory Primate Newsletter
The Laboratory Primate Newsletter provides a central source of information about nonhuman primates and related matters to scientists who use these animals in their research and those whose work supports such research. Published quarterly by Brown University since its inception in 1962.

MEGAT: Middle European Society for Alternatives to Animal Testing (Mitteleuropaeische Gesellschaft fur Alternativmethoden zu Tierversuchen)
MEGAT is an interdisciplinary European scientific society which aims to: 1. Develop and validate alternative and complementary methods in accordance with the 3Rs concept; 2. Demonstrate the use of alternative methods; 3. Act as a representative for animal welfare concerns on national and international advisory committees; and 4. Provide an information source to the public.  The official journal of MEGAT is ALTEX - Alternativen zu Tierexperimenten (Alternatives to Animal Testing).

National Association for Biomedical Research (NABR).
NABR represent the scientific community on the issue of humane care and treatment of laboratory animals. NABR seeks to represent and activate member institutions in national policy making which affects the use of animals in research, education and product safety testing. Its role includes government and congressional relations, support of members with information and consultation on state and local issues, the analysis,, monitoring and reporting of any legislation or regulation dealing with research animals at the international, federal or state level.

National Center for Research Resources (NCRR).
NCRR develops and makes available resources needed for biomedical research throughout the United States, using both intramural and extramural resources. These resources include instrumentation, human clinical research centers, training to develop human resources, including apprenticeships for minority high school students and biology teachers, the development and provision of animal models, including transgenics, improvements in the care and use of laboratory animals, and in training in the specialty of laboratory animal medicine.

The Netherlands Centre Alternatives to Animal Use (NCA).
The Center's task is to stimulate the development, validation, and use of alternatives. By alternatives, the center means every method that leads to replacement, reduction, or refinement of animal experiments. Utrecht University.

Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW).
The Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) provides guidance and interpretation of the Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, supports educational programs, and monitors compliance with the Policy by Assured institutions and PHS funding components to ensure the humane care and use of animals in PHS-supported research, testing, and training, thereby contributing to the quality of PHS-supported activities.

The Primate Enrichment Database
This annotated database on environmental enrichment and refinement of husbandry for nonhuman primates covers all aspects of nonhuman primate research. Supported by AWi.

Society & Animals Forum (PSYeta).
Since 1981, Society & Animals Forum (formerly Psychologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) works with social scientists, mental health providers and other animal protection organizations to reduce the suffering of both human and nonhuman animals. Society & Animals Forum produces educational programs and materials on the relationship between human and nonhuman animals. Publications include Society & Animals Journal and Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science.

Public Responsibility in Medicine & Research (PRM&R).
PRIM&R ia a strong advocate for ethical human and animal research that will both improve the quality of life and benefit society. Through national conferences and publications, PRIM&R addresses the broad range of issues regarding research, clinical practice, ethics, and the law.

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Animals in Research
Scientists from the RSPCA's research animals department provide input into the revision process of the laws that regulate animal experiments in the EU.

Scientists Center for Animal Welfare (SCAW).
SCAW, an educational, non-profit organization, provides a national forum for discussion of public accountability, public policy, and scientists' responsibilities regarding humane standards. SCAW convenes national conferences and workshops to address current issues on laboratory animal welfare and publishes their proceedings.

Tufts University Center for Animals and Public Policy.
Established in 1983 the Center coordinates and focuses programs dealing with the ethical, legal, scientific, and social issues relating to the status of animals in society. The center focuses particularly on public policy implications of changing technology and social attitudes.

United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW).
UFAW is an international scientific and educational animal welfare charity registered in the United Kingdom. UFAW holds symposia and workshops; carries out and sponsors scientific research into many aspects of biology and welfare of farmed, companion, wild, zoo and laboratory animals; produces standard texts on animal care and management; and publishes technical reports and the quarterly scientific journal Animal Welfare.

Wisconsin Primate Research Center (WPRC)
Primate InfoNet and PrimateLit, based at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

ZEBET Centre for Documentation and Evaluation of Alternatives to Animal Experiments
The Centre for Documentation and Evaluation of Alternatives to Animal Experiments (ZEBET) was established in 1989. The goal of this scientific institution is to bring about the replacement particularly of legally prescribed animal experiments with alternative test methods, to reduce the number of test animals to the absolutely necessary level and to alleviate the pain and suffering of animals used in experiments. ZEBET is responsible for documenting alternatives to animal experiment, for assessing them and for recommending or also pushing through their recognition both nationally and internationally.

ZeT: Centre for Alternative and Complementary Methods to Animal Testing / Zentrum für Ersatz- und Ergängzungsmethoden zu Tierversuchen.
ZeT aims to: 1. Develop and validate alternative and complementary methods in accordance with the 3Rs concept; 2. Demonstrate the use of alternative methods; 3. Act as a representative for animal welfare concerns on national and international advisory committes, and 4. provide an information source to the public.

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