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Dr Hadwen Trust policy information
The Dr Hadwen Trust for Humane Research is a registered charity that promotes the development of techniques and procedures to replace the use of living animals in biomedical research, testing and teaching. To further this aim, the Dr Hadwen Trust supports, and assists scientists to discover techniques to replace animal experiments and encourages through publicity and education the wider adoption of such techniques.
Research which requires or involves the use of living animals in any way, even though the ultimate aim may be to replace their use, will not be supported. We will not fund the purchase or maintenance of animals for any reason. Neither do we offer grants for research which uses (non-human) animal cells, animal tissues or animal cell lines. This reflects recent progress in the culture and availability of human cells and tissues, as well as concern about problems of species variation.
Acceptable approaches may include the use of human volunteers, epidemiology, human cell lines, ex vivo or primary human tissues or cells in vitro, micro-organisms, plants, human sub-cellular components in vitro, physicochemical techniques or computer technology. Grants are not available simply in support of non-animal research per se. The research must be directed towards replacing the use of living animals in current procedures within the applicant’s laboratory or, preferably, in the wider field.
Types of support include one-, two- or three-year grants for postdoctoral research fellows, technicians or research assistants, usually consisting of provision for salary, consumables and small items of equipment. As a registered charity we do not award full economic costing and will not provide funds for indirect costs, such as institutional or departmental overheads or administrative charges, or costs of financial, personnel, secretarial or cleaning services or basic utilities.
Grants for larger items of equipment and support for attending meetings may be given to existing grantholders only. Occasionally other types of support may be considered, including organisation of workshops, conferences, or meetings; writing a book or report; or producing a film or video, that fulfil the Trust’s aims.
How to apply
New applications are usually invited in October, although research proposals may occasionally be considered at other times. Past grantholders are eligible to apply only if their grant expired more than two years ago. Applications should be made by the head of the department or a tenured senior scientist who would take responsibility for directing the research, and should be actively engaged in carrying it through. Grantholders should be based in a UK university, medical school or hospital.
For further information please send your details (e-mail, name, academic position, and postal address) to Carol Newman, Research Programme Coordinator.
E-mail: carol@drhadwentrust.org
Statement on peer review
Before funds are committed to a research project, a rigorous peer review procedure is undertaken to ensure that research funded is of the highest quality, and has strong potential both to replace animal experiments and advance medical understanding.
Full applications, submitted on the appropriate forms, and which fully conform to the Dr Hadwen Trust’s policies, undergo independent peer review by external, often international experts. Applications are treated as confidential and the Dr Hadwen Trust seeks the opinions of three expert referees of its own choosing for each application. Feedback from referees may be made available to unsuccessful applicants on an entirely non-attributable basis.