Supporting Ethical Research Since 1985
$1.9M
Funding
75
Grants Awarded
40
Grants Renewed
82
Grant Recipients
What We Do
Forging a humane approach to science
We believe there is a better way to advance scientific research and produce results without bringing harm to animals. This belief is what has been driving our mission for more than 35 years. Each year we award funding to early career scientists who are developing or using alternatives to animal models and testing protocols. Supporting smarter science means developing and utilizing innovative and human relevant solutions to replace animals in research and testing.
This is the Time
Technology advances are driving less need for and reliance on using animals for testing and research. In the United States, a commitment has been made by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue the development of non-animal model alternative methods, [1] and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has prioritized efforts to reduce animal testing. [2]
Benefits in Clinical Trials Questioned
Studies using animals have not always led to further knowledge or development of treatments affecting human health. Animal research often fails in human trials, never making it into clinical practice. [3]
Animal Studies are Flawed
It is difficult to recreate human diseases in animals due to the discrepancies of accurately replicating the human body in another species. This could lead to harming humans and delay finding effective treatments and therapies. [4]
Funding the Future
We believe that supporting researchers developing innovative, human-relevant model systems will lead to better science. This will save animal lives and human lives as well. This next generation of researchers is working to make a true difference.
Compassionate Scientific Research
The research projects that are selected by IFER for funding comprise human health and safety issues affecting people of any age. Research conducted by recent and past recipients has involved studies in chronic illnesses, long term diseases and developmental disorders.
What Our Fellowship Recipients Say
"If we as a society have decided that animals have rights and value as living, breathing creatures, then our research and our application of science should also reflect that."
Alan Kim
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
"Presently, researchers use animals ranging from mice and rats to ferrets and pigs. In addition to ethical concerns of using these animals, these models typically involve performing challenging surgical procedures that are difficult to reproduce. And the results from these models cannot be easily translated to humans."
Prashant Hariharan
Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
“Ultimately, if we can create perfect or near-perfect human tissues and organs in the lab from scratch, those can be used instead of animals in applications such as drug testing and biomedical research.”
Michael Ferguson
Boston University
For Students
Our fellowships provide up to $12,500 annually toward the cost of supplies and the recipient’s salary or tuition per year. The fellowships are renewable for up to three years. Continued funding is dependent on student progress and availability of funds.
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For Donors
Your investment in IFER will pay huge dividends in the form of better, more humane science.
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