Keynote lectures Monday, October 2, addressing the science and ethics of animal experimentation will officially launch the country’s first centre dedicated to replacing animals in biomedical research, education, and regulatory testing.

The public event will introduce the Canadian Centre for Alternatives to Animal Methods, from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Ambassador Auditorium, CAW Student Centre.

Founding executive director Charu Chandrasekera says the event will bring together national and international academic, industry, government, and non-profit sectors for discussion that will continue through a workshop Tuesday to create a strategic vision to realize the centre’s mission.

“We will create action items for a strategic road map to develop novel approaches to better understand human biology and human health risk assessment using 21st century science, innovation, and ethics,” says Dr. Chandrasekera. “We strive towards solutions that improve treatment outcomes for patients and serve the interests of animals.”

Monday’s event promises presentations by:

• Thomas Hartung, director of the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing in the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, and
• John Gluck, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of New Mexico and senior advisor to its president on animal ethics.

Find more information on the centre’s launch on the event website.