- The Medical Advances Without Animals Trust (MAWA) supports, assists and encourages scientists to discover, develop, apply and promote valid methodologies and techniques that will replace the use of animals and animal products in medical research.
- MAWA takes a precautionary approach when considering what is “animal” and “non-animal” as the Trust’s intention is to prevent pain, distress, suffering and deprivation of behavioural needs. As it is not certain where the dividing line falls between sentience and non-sentience within the animal kingdom, MAWA will not support the use of animals with any potential for sentiency, including animals from lower phylogenetic orders or early developmental vertebral stages. Proposed studies using microorganisms will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- MAWA will support ethically approved research with fully informed and consenting human volunteers. Safe studies of healthy and patient volunteers can be conducted using techniques such as neuroimaging, iontophoresis, ultrasound, stable isotope methods, microdosing, staggered dosing, microdialysis, and genetic and other analyses of tissue samples.
- Research which is directly relevant to human health problems will receive priority consideration. Acceptable approaches include, but are not limited to, research involving human cell lines, ex vivo or primary human tissues and cells, human sub-cellular components in vitro, human gene studies, ethical human volunteer studies, epidemiology, micro-organisms, plant tissues, physico-chemical techniques, sharing and assessment of existing data, pharmacokinetic modelling and computer technology (in silico).
- Grants and scholarships are not available simply in support of non-animal research per se. The research must be directed towards replacing the use of animals or animal products in current programs within the applicant’s laboratory, or, preferably, in the wider field.
- Research which requires or involves the use of living animals in any way, even though the ultimate aim may be to replace their use, will not be supported. The Trust will not fund the purchase or maintenance of animals for any reason.
- The Trust does not offer funding for research which uses (non-human) animal cells, animal tissues, animal cell lines, animal derived antibodies (monoclonal and polyclonal), animal derived stains or reagents. This reflects recent progress in the culture and availability of human cells and tissues, as well as concerns about the problems of species variation.
- The Trust will fund the use of human cells and tissue, including adult stem cells and primary foetal cells and tissues if ethically sourced. Human umbilical cord cells, the human placenta or amnion from routine deliveries may be used for research, provided there is informed consent.
- In practice, MAWA accepts it is not always the case that the direct or immediate outcome of a single piece of research will result in the complete replacement of animal procedures in a certain field. However, projects must have the potential to advance the development, validation or application of non-animal methods in medical research.
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