Animal-Free Workshop for Early-Career Researchers

Understanding Translatability and Crafting Competitive Grants

The Animal Protection Commissioner, the Johns Hopkins University Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine are launching a new workshop series focused on animal-free New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) in biomedical research. The first two-hour online workshop will take place on Tuesday, November 19th, at 10 am ET/4 pm CET via Zoom. We will kick off the workshop series with a talk by Dr. Jarrod Bailey, who will explain how human-focused research provides greater clinical benefits. Due to significant biological differences, animal models often fail to translate effectively to human biology, leading to poor clinical outcomes in areas like drug testing and research on diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, HIV/AIDS, and cancer. Chronic stress in laboratory animals further impairs results, and genetic modification does little to bridge species differences. Science is now shifting toward advanced human-specific methods, or NAMs (New Approach Methodologies), using patient-derived cells, organoids, organ-on-a-chip systems, and AI. These approaches are not only humane but also more reflective of human biological diversity, marking the future of ethical, effective biomedical research. The second part of the workshop will focus on writing successful grant applications for funding non-animal methods research. Dr. Angela Hvitved will address two key topics:

1. Funding Sources: An overview of organizations advancing non-animal research methods and current funding opportunities.
2. Writing Competitive Applications: Practical tips for crafting strong proposals, tailored to various funding bodies. Attendees will learn what makes a grant application compelling and how to align ideas with funding opportunities

Free registration

Speakers’ bio sketches

Dr. Angela Hvitved is the Program Director at the Alternatives Research & Development Foundation, where she manages grants focused on developing non-animal research methods. She previously served as a contract merit review officer at the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and as a Public Health Advisor at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Hvitved also worked as a Health Science Policy Analyst at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She holds a BS in Biochemistry and Biophysics and a BA in Philosophy from Iowa State University, as well as a PhD in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from Rice University and a PhD in Philosophy from Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Jarrod Bailey is the Director of Medical Research at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, where he leads a team focused on transitioning biomedical research from animal-based methods to human-specific approaches. He plays a key role in influencing research policies, funding, and laws to support this shift, and has contributed to over 70 peer-reviewed publications. With a background in genetics and virology from Newcastle University, Jarrod has spent the last two decades evaluating the scientific validity of animal experiments and advocating for human-relevant research methods. He has presented his work to major institutions, including the FDA and U.S. Congress, and is a Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. His efforts have significantly influenced the reduction of invasive animal research practices, particularly chimpanzee experimentation in the U.S.