JRC calls for humane research

The Third World Congress on "Alternatives and animal use in the life sciences" will take place in Bologna, Italy, between 29 August and 2 September 1999.

It will be co-chaired by Michael Balls from the Institute for Health and Consumer Protection at the European Commission's Joint Research Centre, and Andrew Rowan of the Humane Society of the United States.

The congress will provide a forum for scientists committed to humane experimental techniques to:

- Emphasise achievements in Reducing, Refining, and Replacing (the 'Three Rs') laboratory animal procedures in biomedical research, education and testing;
- Discuss what progress could be made in the future.

Plenary sessions, lectures, workshops, and poster presentations will be based on the following themes:

- The development of replacement alternative methods;
- The validation and regulatory acceptance of alternative test methods;
- Reduction alternatives and application of the 'Three Rs' to biologicals;
- The refinement of animal procedures;
- Education, ethics and databases.

An award of 2000 dollars will be presented at the conference. All submitted posters will be candidates for selection for this award, with the exception of those judged to involve commercial advertisements. The conference organizers have also announced a call for abstracts.
For more information, please contact:

Congress Office
Institute for Health and Consumer Protection
Joint Research Centre
I-21020 Ispra
Tel. +39-0332-786256; Fax +39-0332-786297
E-mail: 3wc.bologna@jrc.it

or,

Scientific Programme Coordinator
Marlies Halder
E-mail: marlies.halder@jrc.it

For further information about the award, please contact:

Dr A van lersel
ICAAT, RIVM
PO Box 1
NL-3720 Bilthoven
The Netherlands
Tel. +31-30-2742056; Fax +31-30-2744422