Research centre for alternatives to animal use opened
The Mahatma Gandhi-Doerenkamp Centre for Alternatives to Animal Use in Life Science Education was opened at Bharathidasan University here on Friday to mark the 140th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
The Centre, , the first of its kind in Asia and a joint endeavour of the university, the Chennai-based People for Animals (PfA) and Doerenkamp-Zbinden Foundation, Switzerland, will promote ‘humane science,’ blending the Gandhian philosophy of non-violence with life science education and research. The foundation has given €4.5 lakh for setting up the Centre and the Gandhi-Gruber-Doerenkamp Chair for Alternatives in Life Science Education and In vitro Toxicology.
The foundation joined the initiative, having coming to know about the proposal submitted to the University Grants Commission by M.A. Akbarsha, Emeritus Professor of Bharathidasan University, and Shiranee Pereira of PfA.
The Centre will promote humane education systems by introducing alternatives to the use of animals in research and education, in accord with Indian legislation, the Declaration of Bologna and the advances in the science of alternatives.
It will also function as a national authority on alternatives and formulate courses that will sensitise students to respect for all forms of life, the law and ethics of animal use in education and research, says the mission statement. The Centre will fund development of environment friendly pedagogical tools and in vitro alternative methods for life science teaching and research and encourage use of e-tools through virtual learning centres for teaching. It will create a state-of-the-art tissue culture laboratory for non-animal methods of research and product testing, Dr. Akbarsha said.
The former Chairman of the National Assessment and Accreditation Committee, A. Gnanam, inaugurated the centre and a seminar on ‘Ahimsa and animal alternatives: the implications and benefits.’
Vice-Chancellor M. Ponnavaikko laid the foundation for the building of the Centre. The president of the foundation, Franz P. Gruber; David Dewhurst, Director of Educational Information Services, College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh; Norbert Linke, Sworn Chartered Accountant of the foundation; and R.S. Sharma, Deputy Director-General of the Indian Council of Medical Research, were present.
The Centre, , the first of its kind in Asia and a joint endeavour of the university, the Chennai-based People for Animals (PfA) and Doerenkamp-Zbinden Foundation, Switzerland, will promote ‘humane science,’ blending the Gandhian philosophy of non-violence with life science education and research. The foundation has given €4.5 lakh for setting up the Centre and the Gandhi-Gruber-Doerenkamp Chair for Alternatives in Life Science Education and In vitro Toxicology.
The foundation joined the initiative, having coming to know about the proposal submitted to the University Grants Commission by M.A. Akbarsha, Emeritus Professor of Bharathidasan University, and Shiranee Pereira of PfA.
The Centre will promote humane education systems by introducing alternatives to the use of animals in research and education, in accord with Indian legislation, the Declaration of Bologna and the advances in the science of alternatives.
It will also function as a national authority on alternatives and formulate courses that will sensitise students to respect for all forms of life, the law and ethics of animal use in education and research, says the mission statement. The Centre will fund development of environment friendly pedagogical tools and in vitro alternative methods for life science teaching and research and encourage use of e-tools through virtual learning centres for teaching. It will create a state-of-the-art tissue culture laboratory for non-animal methods of research and product testing, Dr. Akbarsha said.
The former Chairman of the National Assessment and Accreditation Committee, A. Gnanam, inaugurated the centre and a seminar on ‘Ahimsa and animal alternatives: the implications and benefits.’
Vice-Chancellor M. Ponnavaikko laid the foundation for the building of the Centre. The president of the foundation, Franz P. Gruber; David Dewhurst, Director of Educational Information Services, College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh; Norbert Linke, Sworn Chartered Accountant of the foundation; and R.S. Sharma, Deputy Director-General of the Indian Council of Medical Research, were present.
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