AALAS Foundation Grants

The AALAS Foundation, through the General Fund, awards grants for projects and programs that support our mission to support educational outreach on the essential role of responsible animal care and use in science to advance human and animal health.

2006: (total awarded: $121,300 )

Outreach at Teacher Conferences in 2007
Funding: $46,300
Requestor: AALAS Foundation
Program: During 2007, AALAS will exhibit at 5-6 science/agricultural teacher conferences. The purpose of exhibiting at these conferences is to provide educational and informational resources promoting the awareness of research animal care and the benefits of biomedical research to people and animals to science/agricultural teachers and ultimately their students. Another important purpose of exhibiting at these conferences is to familiarize teachers with AALAS and the AALAS Foundation and establish both as their primary resource for information on laboratory animal science and biomedical research using animals.

Humane, Responsible Animal Research: Strategic Guide for Speakers, Presenters & Media Spokespersons
Funding: $32,000
Requestor: States United for Biomedical Research (SUBR)
Program: The AALAS Foundation is participating in funding this comprehensive strategic guide for spokespersons. SUBR is committed to building a National Outreach Campaign to change public opinion and increase public acceptance for the use of animals in research and education. The strategic guide is an essential component of the Campaign and the AALAS Foundation, through support of the strategic guide, will enable the success of the Campaign.

Development of a multi-faceted educational exhibit to improve student/public understanding of the nature and importance of animal research.
Funding: $30,000.00
Requestor: Oregon Health and Sciences University (OHSU)
Program: The AALAS Foundation is participating in funding this educational exhibit aimed at elementary and middle-school aged children. The program will consist of creating age-appropriate curricula, activities and support materials to introduce the concepts of biomedical research and animal care to younger students, such as a color/comic/activity book and a touch screen reaction time activity. It will also focus on creating age-appropriate teaching tools for use by teachers of younger students and creating materials that will help train and support scientists in making presentations to younger students.

Training in Basic Biomethodology for Laboratory Rats
Funding: $10,000
Requestor: National Institutes of Health (NIH) / National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
Program: The AALAS Foundation is participating in funding this training tool (through phase II of the project) that will be used in conjunction with two previously developed CDs, “Training in Survival Rodent Surgery”
and “Training in Basic Biomethodology for Laboratory Mice”, to assist in assuring that the trainee has a basic understanding of humane laboratory animal care and use, technical methodology and their ethical and legal responsibilities prior to handling live animals. It also works to further achieve the intent of the 3 R’s…..refinement, replacement and reduction. Upon completion of phase II in which a sample CD prototype will be available showing the general interface, graphic direction, and overall approach, NIH/NHGRI will have the opportunity to submit the remainder of the project for consideration of funding. The CD will be available free of charge and may be freely duplicated, thus enabling a widespread distribution.

“Product Safety” poster
Funding: $3,000
Requestor: AALAS Foundation
Program: The AALAS Foundation is funding this poster used to educate today’s youth on the importance of product safety testing. It will focus on animal research needed to prevent harmful effects or adverse reactions from the products used in every day life. The front of this two-sided poster will be brightly colored and display photos of children (mostly teenagers) using various household products (toothpaste, hair gel, shampoo, make up, cough syrup, etc.). The back of the poster will contain general information on product safety testing, why it is necessary, the roles of animals testing, and further resources. This poster will be available for ordering for free through the AALAS Bookstore and will be given out at AALAS and AALAS Foundation exhibits.

2005: (total awarded: $105,445)

Living Proof: Faces of Research (click here to view the video)
Funding: $58,000
Requestor: North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research
Program: The AALAS Foundation participated in funding this documentary video, developed and produced by NCABR, to improve the public’s awareness of the contribution of animal-based research to human health. Through written stories and news articles, the video is designed to showcase the remarkable benefits of biomedical research to the improvements in the health of this nation’s senior citizens (those ages 55 and older) and provides Americans with a personal connection to and the related contributions of animals made possible as a result of animal-based, biomedical research. The video is available to AALAS Branches and other organizations to use in their own community-based science education outreach activities. The video has an accompanying discussion guide to assist in their presentations. For middle and high school classroom presentations, the video also has accompanying lesson plans that can be left with teachers.

Outreach at Teacher Conferences in 2006
Funding: $38,000
Requestor: AALAS Foundation
Program: During 2006, AALAS exhibited at six science/agricultural teacher conferences: NSTA, NABT, FFA, NSTA Regional, NAAE/ACTE, and TSTA. Teachers and students were provided with resources that promote the role of responsible lab animal care and use in science.

Biomedical Research with Nonhuman Primates: An Education Outreach Program
Funding: $8,500
Requestor: California National Primate Research Center (CNPRC)
Program: The AALAS Foundation participated in funding this coloring book, developed and produced by CNPRC, as an educational outreach tool for elementary-age students. The focus of the book is the importance of the use of nonhuman primates in biomedical research. It also covers a wide range of animals used in research and includes research programs from all of the National Primate Research Centers across the country.

Frog Anatomy Poster: Outreach Tool
Funding: $945
Requestor: AALAS Foundation
Program: The AALAS Xenopus laevis anatomy poster is the perfect addition to science classrooms where the frog is used as a dissection tool. Funding allowed for an AALAS Foundation representative to take a total of 35 of the new posters to five different science-teacher related exhibitions throughout the year. Plans included giving away ten (10) posters at the two larger shows (National Science Teachers Assn and National Assn of Biology Teachers) and five (5) posters at the smaller shows (Assn of Vet Tech Educators, Future Farmers of America, and National Assn of Ag Educators). The posters were given away to teachers through a daily drawing held at our booth. Teachers filled out an information card that was placed into a box for a daily drawing. Several cards were drawn each day (depending on show) and were sent the poster following the show.

2004: (total awarded: $107,300)

Outreach at Teachers Conferences, 2004-2005
Funding: $36,000
Requestor: AALAS
Program: During 2004-2005 AALAS staff will exhibit at the annual meetings of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), National Association for Biology Teachers (NABT), American School Counselors Association (ASCA), Future Farmers of America (FFA), National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE), and the Association for Veterinary Technician Educators (AVTE) to provide teachers and students with educational and informational resources promoting the awareness of research animal care and the benefits of biomedical research. Teacher workshops will be conducted at several of these meetings.

Survivors Phase 2
Funding: $19,600
Requestor: Foundation for Biomedical Research (FBR)
Program: Building on the success of the Foundation for Biomedical Research’s first program of this type, Survivors – Phase 1 (which assisted practicing animal veterinarians in educating pet owners about the vital role research plays in prolonging the health and life of their pets), this phase expands the core message to include equine medicine and to actively engage large animal veterinarians. The program will continue to educate and enlighten Americans about the vital contributions being made by laboratory animal medicine.

“Together for Life … Every Day of the Year” Classroom Calendar (click here to download)
Funding: Jointly funded by the AALAS Foundation ($15,000) and Millennium Pharmaceuticals ($15,000).
Requestor: AALAS Foundation
Program: A joint project of Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc. and the AALAS Foundation, this full-color, two-sided 17”x33” calendar/poster is a beautiful, multi-purpose outreach tool for students and teachers in grades 6-10. The calendar’s objectives are to: Increase awareness of the benefits people and animals receive from medical research using animals; pique curiosity about current issues within the biomedical research field, and teach students more about laboratory animals and the magnificent contributions they have made to our lives.

Science, Medicine, and Animals: A Circle of Discovery
Funding: $15,000
Requestor: Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR)
Program: The AALAS Foundation participated in funding the printing and dissemination of this publication for middle- and high-school students. Produced by the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research, the publication’s objective is to reach teenagers who are frequently targeted by the animal rights movement with false and misrepresented information in an effort to re-educate them about the contributions of animals to biomedical research, basic research, and safety testing. The publication also discusses the laws that protect lab animals and the ethical underpinnings of their humane use in research.

Careers in Biomedical Research Brochure
Funding: $10,000
Requestor: California Society for Biomedical Research (CSBR)
Program: A joint project between the California Society for Biomedical Research and the AALAS Foundation, this comprehensive brochure will cover a wide range of career options in biomedical research. The objectives of the brochure are to encourage youth to seek careers in biomedical research, to educate teachers and counselors about career options, and to promote an awareness of animal research and its benefits.

Reach Out! Toolbox (click here to download)
Funding: $6,500
Requestor: AALAS
Program: Distributed during the AALAS National Meeting in Tampa in October 2004 and then made available through the AALAS and AALAS Foundation websites, the “Reach Out! Toolbox materials offer motivation and encouragement for AALAS members interested in learning how to reach out to the public about biomedical research using animals. The contents provide AALAS members with tools and resources to conduct successful public outreach sessions within their communities and supply guidelines for planning and conducting an Animal Research Fair at the facility or branch and district meetings.

“Learning to Care” Poster
Funding: $4,600
Requestor: American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
Program: The full-color poster promotes stewardship, responsibility, and respect for animals used in any classroom environment – from third-grade level through college. The one-sided poster displays images of animals common to a classroom and has colorful photos of students interacting with animals in a classroom environment.

Kids4Research Begins @ Home
Funding: $600
Requestor: AALAS
Program: In an effort to promote the importance of animals in biomedical research to the youth of our society – and particularly to those of many AALAS members – kids 19 and under registered free at the National Meeting in Tampa, Florida in October this year. 100+ youth attended the meeting and claimed a complimentary T-Shirts, funded by the AALAS Foundation!

2003: (total awarded: $25,264)

“Reach Out!” Video into DVD Format
Funding: $9,460
Requestor: American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
Program: To place the contents of the Reach Out! Educating the Public about People and Animals in Biomedical Research video into DVD format for ease in viewing and to make the product more accessible to teachers, students, and AALAS members. DVDs were distributed at science teacher association meetings and at various AALAS functions.

Public Outreach Marketing to Teachers
Funding: $7,644
Requestor: American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
Program: To enhance teacher awareness of public outreach materials (developed by AALAS and the AALAS Foundation) that are available for classroom use. Several ads, the first of which is titled, “Got Mice? Got Rats?” were placed during 2003 in two journals, The American Biology Teacher, and Science Scope, which have a combined readership of 45,000, comprised of elementary, middle, junior high, high school and college level biology educators.

“Quality Animal Care Equals Quality Science” poster
Funding: $4,000
Requestor: American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
Program: To create a full-color, 11”x 17” poster that will serve both as a direct marketing piece focusing on the high level of attention, caring, and dedication laboratory animal personnel have for their animals, and how that directly impacts the research outcome. It will also focus on how the AALAS International Laboratory Animal Technician Week recognizes the importance of technicians in the field.

Rat Anatomy Reference Sheets
Funding: $2,500
Requestor: American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
Program: To produce a 2-sided, full-color Rat Anatomy Reference Sheet for school students to use as a reference tool during dissection classes. This sheet will serve several functions including a desk-top anatomy guide and an outreach tool promoting the importance of the rat in biomedical research and the necessity for the respect and responsible stewardship of animals in general. The front side will contain five labeled body system images from the current AALAS rat anatomy poster, and the back will contain interesting facts about the rat and its contributions to medical research, information on the general respect for and the stewardship of animals, and where to find AALAS’ position statement on the use of animals in the classroom.

Teacher Workshop at the 2004 NSTA Annual Conference
Funding: $1660
Requestor: American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
Program: To conduct a workshop for teachers at the annual National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Meeting being held in Atlanta in March, 2004. This workshop will be used to provide teachers with information, materials, and techniques for teaching kids in the classroom about laboratory animal science, and biomedical research using animals.

2002: (total awarded: $47,587)

All We Need is Love Poster
Funding: $20,000
Requestor: New Jersey Association for Biomedical Research
NJABR: To develop, print, and distribute a classroom teaching poster designed to help teachers and students think through the responsibilities of caring for animals in the classroom.

Student Science Literacy Workshop: Development and Dissemination
Funding: $13,587
Requestor: The Pennsylvania Society for Biomedical Research.
Program: To develop and disseminate an easy-to-use workshop package based on the objectives of the Student Science Literacy Workshop. 15 workshops were completed during 2002, and an additional six will be presented by mid-year 2003. To be developed are: a turn-key, step-by-step template for setting up and conducting the workshop, a CD with the interactive program, a script, all materials, a list of resources, and program evaluation materials.

Larry the Lab Mouse
Funding: $5,000
Requestor: incurably ill for Animal Research (iifAR)
Program: To update and print a coloring book designed to teach younger children how animals are cared for in a research laboratory.

Research, Animals & Welfare Course, St. Petersburg, Russia
Funding: $5,000
Requestor: University of Finland
Program: To provide funding for two trainers (AALAS members or staff) from the United States to teach this C-category, scientists training course May 27-June 2, 2002, to students from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Norway and Northwest Russia.

A Career in Caring Poster
Funding: $4,000
Requestor: Committee on Technician Awareness and Development (AALAS)
Program: To develop a poster promoting careers in laboratory animal science and International Laboratory Animal Technician Week. The emphasis for the poster is to attract junior and senior high school students to the field of laboratory animal science.

2001: (total awarded: $51,375)

Student Science Literacy Workshops
Funding: $14,640
Requestor: Pennsylvania Society for Biomedical Research
Program: To conduct 17 science literacy workshops bringing students to academic and pharmaceutical company animal research facilities for an educational workshop and tour of the facility.

AMP News Service
Funding: $10,000
Requestor: Americans for Medical Progress
Program: The Foundation partnered with AMP to help support and expand the AMP News Service by email beyond AALAS and the animal care community, making vital information available to members of professional and scientific societies, research policymakers, and others who are crucial to our efforts to bolster public understanding and support for scientists’ work with research animals.

Reach Out! Video
Funding: $9,850
Requestor: American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
Program: To develop a public outreach instructional video, Reach Out! Educating the Public about People and Animals in Biomedical Research, which reviews techniques and proven methods for reaching school children from kindergarten through high school. In 2002 the Foundation funded AALAS Staff to attend the National Science Teachers Association and the National Association of Biology Teachers, with a combined attendance of almost 20,000 teachers.

Moving Fully into the 21st Century
Funding: $7,300
Requestor: North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research
Program: To update and improve current resources for teachers and the research community.

Southern Area Conference of the NSTA
Funding: $6,715
Requestor: American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
Program: To hold an exhibit during the Southern Area Conference of the National Science Teachers Association and to conduct a workshop for teachers about laboratory animal science.

Animal Research Education Awareness Program
Funding: $2,420
Requestor: Tri-Branch of AALAS
Program: To conduct a program for students, such as the one conducted at the AALAS National Meeting, to bring students to visit the exhibit hall at the 2001 Tri-Branch meeting to meet and visit with vendors and other individuals in the field and to learn how animals are supported and cared for in the research facility.

Certification Grants
Funding; $450
Requestor: American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
Program: To provide funding for certification exams for applicants who had a financial hardship and who did not have employer support to pay for the certification exams.

2000: (total awarded: $36,450)

WABR Campaign for Public Awareness
Funding: $19,250
Requestor: Washington Association for Biomedical Research
Program: To design, produce and distribute a booklet and classroom curriculum based on a series of articles published in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. The booklet, called For the Greater Good discusses issues from five different points of views regarding animal research.

On-Line University
Funding: $13,000
Requestor: American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
Program: To develop a proto-site of an online learning program dedicated to courses in laboratory animal science. After the successful proto-site was developed, a proposal was made to (and approved by) the AALAS BOT to develop an online learning program for AALAS members and members of the biomedical research community.

Public Outreach Materials
Funding: $4,200
Requestor: American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
Program: To approve $4,200 for the production of six public outreach items. These include a mouse cut-out; a series of three flyers – one each for parents, teachers, and scientists/researchers – to talk to kids about animal research; and reprinting of two brochures as part of a series of brochures about the Use of Animals in Biomedical Research – one brochure about Improving Human and Animal Health and one about Understanding the Issues.

1999: (total awarded: $39,850)

The Women’s Health Campaign
Funding: $25,000
Requestor Americans for Medical Progress
Program: The AALAS Foundation was a co-sponsor with Americans for Medical Progress (AMP) on this two-year campaign to inform women of the importance of the crucial role of animals in medical research and to address ways in which many animal rights organizations are threatening critical women’s health research. This included the development of An Album of Research Hope (available through AMP) that illustrates how using animals has helped researchers gain insight into and develop treatments for some of the nation’s leading fatal diseases.

Public Outreach Materials and Programs
Funding: $14,850
Requestor: American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
Program: To develop a speaker’s bureau, to exhibit at NSTA conferences, and to reprint Foundation materials.

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