In 2005, AFAAR founder Ethel Thurston, PhD, passed away after decades of service to animals and science. AFAAR has since been revitalized by her chosen successor, Theodora Capaldo, EdD, continuing the longstanding partnership between these two women and their shared vision. AFAAR works collaboratively with several organizations whose mission to end the use of animals in science allows for cooperative programs and work. Dr. Capaldo was appointed AFAAR Trustee in 2005 and continues the pioneering work of AFAAR in Dr. Thurston's memory.
Among the organization's many acocmplishments, AFAAR first helped make history by funding a landmark alternative to the infamous Draize rabbit eye test, later adopted by some major product and cosmetics companies. Over the years, AFAAR has funded alternatives worldwide, including more than 200 human tissue culture tests to replace toxicity and other testing on animals. AFAAR was also instrumental in funding several scientists whose work led to the availability of testing methods that can replace the use of animals in all areas of cosmetic and toxicity testing.
Today, AFAAR funds a wide and encompassing range of research involving the use, development, or validation of alternatives. One of our latest programs is the Fellowship Grant for Alternatives to Animal Research in Human Health and Sex Differences in Health and Disease. The award supports postdoctoral women in science who are committed to using, developing, or validating alternatives to animal research in the field of human health or sex differences. The goal is twofold: to develop, validate and put into use alternatives to animals; and, to show that even sex differences between human men and women can lead to different research results for each. Refining the focus of research to alternatives that illustrate these sex differences casts a glowing light on how flawed using different species is to try to extrapolate information from a mouse, rat or monkey, etc. to humans. The studies that result from these post-doctoral research grants will help point the way to scientific and societal insistence that the only truly valid research into human health and disease is the use of human-based research. This scientific fact will inevitably lead to ending the use of myriad species of animals for the purported benefit of humans. The inevitable result will be humane and better science.