News

As part of our long-standing commitment to advancing science without harming animals, each year, thanks to your generosity, NAVS awards a grant to the International Foundation for Ethical Research (IFER). This grant supports scientists who are developing alternatives to the use of animals in biomedical research, safety testing and education.

IFER, which was founded by NAVS nearly 36 years ago, provides fellowships to the best and brightest graduate students who share our vision of promoting innovative, human-relevant scientific advancements while sparing animal suffering. The students are selected as Graduate Student Fellowship recipients during a rigorous process in which IFER’s Scientific Advisory Board chooses projects based on their scientific merit as well as for the positive effect the research will have on the reduction, refinement or replacement of animal use. Priority is given to projects most likely to replace animal use.

NAVS’ investment in IFER has provided funding for a wide range of innovative research projects, supporting scientists working in diverse areas of research, including cancer, diabetes and kidney diseases.

We invite you to learn more about the cutting-edge research that we are funding this year. During the 2020-2021 grant cycle, fellowships were awarded to three new graduate students, and three former fellowship recipients had their funding renewed. Please visit the NAVS website to see and hear from the graduate students who are developing human-relevant, animal-free alternatives.

In addition, IFER is currently accepting pre-proposals for the 2021-2022 grant cycle. If you know of any graduate student researchers who are developing alternatives to the use of animals in science, please let them know of this important funding opportunity.