Engaging Researchers in Animal-Free 21st Century Science

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and Johns Hopkins University Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) host a workshop series focused on animal-free new approach methods (NAMs) in research and testing. These free online workshops feature nonanimal research and career development presentations by experts from across industry, academia, government, and policy.

Workshop No. 5, Addressing the Preference for Animal-Based Research Methods

Date: January 22, 2026
Time: 10 AM ET/4 PM CET via Zoom

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Workshop Summary

Workshop No. 5 will feature Dr. Catharine E. Krebs of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine discussing animal methods bias, a peer review bias characterized by a preference for animal-based research methods or lack of expertise to adequately evaluate nonanimal methods. Animal methods bias can affect the quality or fairness of nonanimal research assessments, including peer reviews of manuscripts and grant applications. In addition to a review of the current evidence for animal methods bias, this presentation will provide recommendations for researchers, journals, and funders for mitigating its harmful effects. It will also describe other scenarios beyond publishing and funding where animal methods bias might manifest. Survey studies consistently find that about half of respondents had been asked by reviewers to add an animal experiment to their otherwise animal-free studies. Authors often do not feel such experiments are scientifically justified but nevertheless feel pressure to comply with reviewer requests in order to ensure manuscript acceptance. If they do not add animal experiments to their studies, researchers report such consequences as delays in publication, lower-impact papers, and rejected grants. Bibliometric analysis confirms self-reported findings that high-impact papers are more likely to report animal use compared to in vitro alternatives. To learn more about this issue, please visit AnimalMethodsBias.org!

About the Speaker

Catharine E. Krebs, PhD, is a medical research program manager with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a nationwide organization of physicians and laypersons that promotes preventive medicine, conducts clinical research, and encourages higher standards for ethics and effectiveness in research and medical training. Dr. Krebs leads a collaborative international effort to characterize and address the bias toward animal-based methods within medical research: the Coalition to Illuminate and Address Animal Methods Bias (COLAAB). She led the COLAAB to win the Lush Prize in May 2024. Read Dr. Krebs's full bio.

Workshop No. 4, A NAMs-Focused Literature Searching Approach

Workshop No. 4 featured Rob Wright, MLS of the Johns Hopkins University Welch Medical Library leading a participants through a structured, NAMs-focused approach to searching the scientific literature. Using PubMed, Rod demonstrated how to build a targeted search concept, with a focus on organoids and microphysiological systems.

Workshop No. 3, Exploring Brain MPS, Organoid Intelligence & Career Pathways

Workshop No. 3 featured both a scientific presentation and a career panel. Dr. Itzy Morales Pantoja presented on recent advances in brain microphysiological systems that are reshaping how we model neurological function and disease. The career panel featured representatives from academia, industry, government, and policy sharing their career journeys and discussing their current work.

Career Panel:

• Eryn Slankster-Schmierer, PhD – Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
• Annalisa Gastaldello, PhD – Joint Research Centre of the European Commission
• James J. Hickman, PhD – Hesperos
• Itzy Morales Pantoja, PhD – Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing

Workshop No. 2, Antibodies and Beyond: The Power of Animal-Free, Recombinant Antibodies

Workshop No. 2 featured Dr. Esther Wenzel, Co-Founder and COO of the biotechnology company Abcalis GmbH. Dr. Wenzel gave an interactive and informative introduction to antibodies including how they are developed, how animals play a role, and what the advantages and disadvantages of animal-free antibodies are.

Workshop No. 1, Understanding Translatability and Crafting Competitive Grant Applications

Workshop No. 1 featured Dr. Jarrod Bailey, Director of Medical Research at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, discussing how human-focused research provides greater clinical benefits, due to greater biological similarity and specificity of human-based methods and Dr. Angela Hvitved, Program Director at the Alternatives Research & Development Foundation, providing an overview of funding opportunities for nonanimal research methods and practical tips for crafting a strong proposal that is tailored to the target funding opportunity.