Funding Spectrum
Projects and institutions we are supporting
The set Foundation supports a wide range of scientific projects whose focus is on the verifiable reduction, replacement, or refinement of animal experimentation. This represents a significant supplement of other institutions’ efforts to finance alternative and complementary experimenting methods. The Foundation’s funding emphasises three areas of activity:
Sponsoring research proposals for further replacement and complementary methods
Eligible projects propose the development of new alternatives or the revision of present methods suitable for reducing or replacing established animal experiments in industry and academia. Research aiming at alternatives to mandatory routine experimenting is also eligible. Among the projects previously supported by the set Foundation is a cell culture-based method to produce monoclonal antibodies, which replaced the use of mice. Another research project developed a method using human whole blood instead of one performed with rabbits.
Scientific communication and activitites through international relationships
The financial support of the set Foundation extends to publications, conventions, courses and seminars to improve the dialogue among scientists and communicate information on the available alternative methods and their application. One of its purposes is to have these methods recognised by the authorities and international organizations. In this context, ALTEX, a leading publication in the field of alternative methods reporting on the latest scientific results has been sponsored by the Foundation for years.
Student training and further education
To improve the role and reinforce the application of alternative methods in scientific training, the set Foundation sponsors training courses for young scientists. One example is the teaching of a method testing the effectiveness of psychotropics which formerly required extremely stressful experiments on monkeys and cats: Today it is possible to test the effectiveness of the drugs with brain tissue slices from rats. Thanks to the Foundation’s support, this method, which calls for training in a special technique of brain tissue slicing, can now be taught at Professor Haas’ teaching laboratory at Düsseldorf University.
Guidelines and Criteria
Criteria for qualifying research projects
The set Foundation supports primarily small and medium-sized projects that demonstrate courage to close the gaps in knowledge outside the approaches supported by other institutions. The aim is to provide a meaningful addition to public funding as well as to the efforts of industry and animal welfare organizations. Eligible projects may receive full or partial funding from set or, if applicable, be referred to the appropriate funding institution.
The Wissenschaftliche Beirat (Scientific Advisory Committee) carefully evaluates new projects, following the guidelines and charter of the Foundation. The selection and supervision of the projects are not based on rigid bureaucratic thinking but on our desire for truly productive, pragmatic and uncomplicated collaboration. Please describe your project and state your case clearly to allow the objective comparison of applications. Proposals should meet the following criteria:
3Rs Relevance: Projects must deal with the development of animal-free testing methods, with reducing the number of animals used or with minimizing the distress experienced by the animals
Qualifications: Applicants must possess the relevant qualifications and experience in the respective research field
Resources: All the basic prerequisistes of the project must be provided for; in particular the laboratory equipment needed to perform the research project
A final report must be submitted to the set Foundation at the conclusion of the project. In some cases interim reports may also be necessary. Since the set Foundation is dedicated to scientific communication and interdisciplinary networking, reports on the dissemination or implementation of the results are expected at a later date.
Applications for funding by the set Foundation must contain the following information: The requested amount, itemised by personnel, operating costs, etc.; all the items - including personnel expenditures - to be quoted in Euro. (Please take into account, that our budget is limited to about 300.000 € per year, whereof we would like to support 2 - 4 projects.) There is no set duration for the project.