Excerpt from Impact Report 2022-2023
“Creating a better future, for animals and humans
£242,510 of research funded
3 Home Office meetings attended
5 PhDs completed through the FRAME Lab
33 people attended our Training School in Norway and our experimental design training sessions hosted in the UK
43 Volunteers giving their time and expertise
£15,538 kindly donated by 807 wonderful people
13 generous legacy gifts received
16 like-minded companies and trusts supporting us
DONATIONS DONATE TO FRAME Become a FRAME donor today
If you’re reading this impact report then you likely want to end the use of animals in biomedical research and testing as much as we do. Thank you! That’s our sole mission, to create a world where no animal suffers for science. And we’re creating that world every day by refocusing funding on non-animal, human-centred methods that’ll benefit animals and humans. We can only do this through your generous donations. Every policy briefing shared, research project funded, and student supported is made possible through our community of support. Please consider joining us today and becoming a FRAME donor.
Voices from the sector
Penny Hawkins, Head of Animals in Science Department at the RSPCA
“FRAME has been a highly-respected partner organisation for the RSPCA for many years. We share the same ultimate vision of replacing all animal experiments, along with an effective, evidence-based approach towards achieving this. We liaise regularly and can often join forces and support one another, particularly around the regulation of animal experiments and its interpretation and implementation. A joint communication from two credible and well-supported organisations, like FRAME and the RSPCA, carries a great deal of weight and together we can make a real difference for lab animals.”
Why we need your support DID YOU KNOW?
2.76 million Scientific procedures involving live animals were carried out in Great Britain in 2022, a 10% decrease from 3.06 million procedures in 2021.
96% of all procedures used mice, rats, birds, or fish.
1.51 million Scientific procedures involving live animals were for the creation and breeding of genetically altered animals.
Voices from the sector Professor Kate Millar, Centre for Applied Bioethics, School of Biosciences and School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham
“It is a pleasure to work with FRAME as not only does this partnership enable us to combine the expertise and skills of the Nottingham and FRAME teams, but it also combines our passions for creating meaningful change in research practice through training and education which raises awareness, transfers key knowledge and develops skills.”
FRAME LAB The FRAME Lab in partnership with the University of Nottingham is a vital part of our work. Their dedication to developing, validating and sharing non-animal approaches is inspiring. This past year at the lab we’ve seen:
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Five students complete their PhDs – congratulations to Drs Tarsitano, Edey, Heath, Alsolami and Rahman! -
Three areas of FRAME research published in four different journals:-
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Zoe compares fat accumulation in liver cells from patients with human liver cell lines -
Breast Cancer: Wichitra explores how immune system interacts with breast cancer cell receptors to influence disease outcome -
Liver Fibrosis: Syedia’s papers on integrins as a drug target and therapetic potential of integrins in liver fibrosis
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Students representing the FRAME Lab at four conferences:-
International Conference on Molecular Neurobiology in Paris -
Midlands 3Rs Conference in Birmingham -
Pharmacology 2022 in Liverpool -
University of Nottingham Postgraduate Symposium
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FRAME funded work continuing in:-
Brain: human models of neuroinflammation in Parkinson’s disease and other conditions -
Liver: development of human liver models for toxicity, drug discovery and disease modelling -
Animal-free physiologically relevant cell culture: developing human cell culture systems that do not require supplementation with animal-derived materials
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FRAME RESEARCH Innovation Grants
We funded a further three pilot projects exploring new non-animal methods in 2022 following the successful launch of the Innovation Grants Scheme in 2021. Find out more about each of the projects below and the exciting new non-animal methods in development.
Dr Hannah Harrison investigates how metastatic breast cancer spreads
Dr Janine Coombes is developing a 3D model of the human intestine
Dr Farideh Javid is developing 3D models of ovarian cancer
FRAME RESEARCH Summer Studentships
We funded five Summer Studentship projects in 2022 across the UK with a host of inspiring young scientists looking to develop their skills and knowledge in non-animal research. Craig McHardy at the University of Plymouth Emilia Cross at the University of York Khush Saba at Aston University, Birmingham Maia Kazakova Garcia at the University of Edinburgh Sarah Orr at Newcastle University
EDUCATION Through our FRAME Lab and Training School in partnership with the University of Nottingham we continue to educate scientists and researchers around the world in ethics, experimental design best practice, and non-animal methods. We’ve seen five amazing PhD students finish their studies with the FRAME Lab in 2022. We’ve trained 102 PhD students in experimental design. We’ve hosted 33 people on our Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis Training School in Norway. Through inclusive education, we hope to increase the use of non-animal methods both in the UK and around the world. We believe this will create better science, a better workplace and, of course, a better world – for animals and humans!
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR LATEST WORK IN EDUCATION
Voices from the sector Dr Lesley Gilmour, Named Training and Competency Officer, Biological Services, University of Glasgow and FRAME Trustee
“I wanted to be involved with FRAME because, although I believe that testing on animals is necessary for essential medical experiments, I also believe that there should be greater investment across the sector in the development and promotion of non-animal models in line with the commitment to replacement as licence holders under the Animals Scientific Procedures Act. I believe that FRAME could help bridge the gap between research to develop non-animal models, and research where animal models are extensively used as standard by encouraging communication, collaboration and transparency.”
POLICY
2022-23 was a busy year for policy work at FRAME and for our new Head of Policy and Programmes, Amy Beale, and Policy Officer, Jessie Hellier. We spent a lot of time developing our approach to policy and the work we want to undertake. It was a hands-on year full of contact with policymakers and governmental bodies, and here are a few of our highlights:
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We published our first Policy Approach, outlining the three main areas of our policy work, and the steps we will take to advocate for positive change. -
We sent a letter to the former Minister for Brexit Opportunities, Jacob Rees-Mogg, urging the government to use Brexit as an opportunity to accelerate its uptake of non-animal methods. -
We briefed MPs ahead of the Westminster Hall debate “Ban commercial breeding for laboratories, implement reform to approach and use New Approach Methodologies (NAMs)”. -
We published FRAME’s Impetus Report sharing views from experts within industry and academia, in answer to two key questions:-
What are the areas of biomedical research or testing where animals are currently used but could be replaced in the short term (5-10 years)? -
What are the areas of biomedical research or testing where replacement looks unlikely in the long term (20+ years)?
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We attended and contributed to three Animal Protection and Welfare Stakeholder Group meetings at the Home Office. -
We submitted evidence to four government enquiries, proposals and commissions:-
The Commons Science and Technology Committees ‘My Science Enquiry’. We highlighted the opportunity to strengthen requirements to search for non-animal approaches, and the opportunities to prioritise non-animal methods and the enforcement of replacement. -
The round tables held by the new Advanced Research and Invention Agency. We discussed how funding could transform disease research and drug development through the progression and validation of human cell-based models. -
The Home Office commissioned call for evidence on the Forced Swim Test by the Animals in Science Committee. We shared our stance that the test should be ended and funding directed into non-animal methods and tools. -
The UK Committee on Research Integrity’s draft strategic plan. We pushed for non-animal methods to be at the forefront of conversations around research integrity, and provided feedback on how their strategy could be improved in line with this.
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We’ve big ambitions for our policy work, and will continue to push for change. We’re already underway with some exciting projects that we look forward to sharing with you soon!”
FRAME are also looking for a volunteer for their scientific advisory panel: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/frame-fund-for-the-replacement-of-animals-in-medical-experiments_volunteers-activity-7191014048006643712-dQB-?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios
Executive summary: FRAME (Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments) is an impactful animal welfare charity working to end the use of animals in biomedical research and testing by funding research into non-animal methods, educating scientists, and advocating for policy changes.
Key points:
In 2022, FRAME funded £242,510 of research into non-animal methods, supported 5 PhD students, and trained 33 people in experimental design.
The FRAME Lab at the University of Nottingham focuses on developing and validating non-animal approaches in areas like brain, liver, and breast cancer research.
FRAME funded 3 pilot projects through their Innovation Grants Scheme and 5 Summer Studentship projects to support the development of new non-animal methods.
FRAME’s policy work included publishing a Policy Approach, briefing MPs, submitting evidence to government inquiries, and attending Home Office meetings to advocate for the replacement of animal experiments.
FRAME believes that refocusing funding on non-animal, human-centered methods will benefit both animals and humans by creating better science and a better world.
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