Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments (FRAME)

Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments (FRAME) believes that the current scale of animal experimentation is unacceptable, but recognises that the immediate abolition of all laboratory animal use is not possible. Essential medical research must continue, so that effective treatments for diseases that lessen the length and quality of human and animal life can be found.   New products, including medicines and vaccines, and industrial and agricultural chemicals, must be adequately tested, in order to identify potential hazards to human and animal health, and to the environment.    FRAME advocates the Three Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) approach to this problem.   FRAME's long-term goal is the total elimination of the need for any laboratory animal procedures, through the development, validation and acceptance of replacement alternative methods.   Until this goal is reached, FRAME supports efforts to reduce the numbers of animals used, through better experimental design and data analysis, and to refine procedures, so that the suffering of any animals necessarily used is minimised.   FRAME is a charitable organisation, that produces an annual report.   FRAME works in five main areas: legislative and regulatory reform, scientific research, publications, specific campaigns and public education.   In 1981, the Trustees established a FRAME Research Program.   Work is in progress in the following main areas: cytotoxicology; target organ toxicology; and the identification of potential teratogens, neurotoxins, immunotoxins and carcinogens.   Together with the members of ERGATT (European Research Group for Alternatives in Toxicity Testing), and with European Community support, FRAME has established INVITTOX (see record number 4404), a data bank to provide state-of-the-art technical information on the use of alternative methods in toxicology and toxicity testing.   In collaboration with the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the Committee for the Reform of Animal Experiments (CRAE), FRAME acted as a principal adviser to the British Government during the preparation and passage through Parliament of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 which came into force in the UK on 1st January 1987.   The Chairman of the FRAME Trustees is a member of the Animal Procedures Committee established by the Act to monitor its working.   A new version of the original "The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique", is now available as "The Three Rs and the Humanity Criterion " from FRAME.  The new version is edited and updated by Michael Balls, to make it easier for readers who have English as a second language.   This version may be ordered from http://www.frame.org.uk   

Comments & References: Established in 1969.   FRAME publishes a scientific journal, ATLA (Alternatives to Laboratory Animals).   FRAME also publishes a quarterly newsletter, FRAME NEWS, a newsletter of the Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments.   Aimed at scientists, politicians, administrators and the general public.   Prices for FRAME News: £15.00 (US$25.00)per year; free to libraries in United Kingdom; US$10.00 per year postage to libraries outside United Kingdom.   Friends of FRAME is published for FRAME supporters.   A special newsletter for schools and colleges is to be produced in the near future.   A FRAME Toxicity Committee was established in 1979 to investigate the possibility of reducing animal use and suffering in toxicity testing. The proceedings of a conference to discuss the Committee's second report have been published as "Animals and Alternatives in Toxicology; Present Status and Future Prospects" (ed. M. Balls, J.A. Southee & J.W. Bridges; London: Macmillan).    FRAME and FFVFF (Fonds für versuchstierfreie forschung, see record 140) have long been mutually supportive.