The annual price for the promotion of alternative and complementary methods to animal tests in both scientific research and in teaching is awarded by the Berlin State Department of Health (LaGeSo) together with the association of research-based pharmaceutical companies (VFA). The prize is € 15,000. In addition, the Berlin alliance of animal welfare policy has increased the price by € 5,000 to € 20,000.

Prof. Weindl receives the award for his development of an immunocompetent skin model with in vitro generated human Langerhans cells, which is an important immune cell type in the skin. The model is designed to test a sensitizing potential of a substance in a the vitro model. Currently, this test on sensitising potential still is done with the mouse in a so-called local lymph node assay after intracutaneous administration of the test substance.

The research prize award takes place on the 9th August at 10 clock. It takes place in:

Rotes Rathaus, Louise-Schroeder-Hall (room 337), Rathausstr. 15, 10178 Berlin-Mitte.

http://www.berlin.de/lageso/gesundheit/veterinaerwesen/alternativmethoden.html