Three researchers from Aarhus University have received a scholarship from the Frøknerne Anna and Dagny Hjerrilds Foundation. The scholarships have been awarded for their work to limit or completely refrain from using laboratory animals in their research.

2020.01.08 | Lise Wendel Eriksen

Birgitte Kousholt (left), Mette Madsen (middle) and Jane Hvarregaard Christensen have all received scholarships from the Frøknerne Anna and Dagny Hjerrilds Foundation for the abolition of animal testing in scientific research. Photo: AU.

Associate Professor Mette Madsen, Associate Professor Jane Hvarregaard Christensen and Veterinarian Birgitte Kousholt have something in common; they have either found alternatives to animal experimentation or have made a special contribution to animal ethics in their health science research. They have been rewarded for their efforts by the Frøknerne Anna and Dagny Hjerrilds Foundation for the abolition of animal testing in scientific research.

Each of the three researchers receives a scholarship of DKK 100,000 to be used for research activities.

Veterinarian and PhD, Birgitte Saima Kousholt

Birgitte Kousholt is a veterinarian and head of the surgical research laboratories at Aarhus University. She works with the 3R initiatives (replacement, refinement and reduction) which aim to minimise and improve the use of laboratory animals in research and teaching. Birgitte Kousholt is one of the founders of AUGUST, which works with teaching and research within systematic reviews and meta-analyses of preclinical experimental animal research studies.

Associate Professor Mette Madsen, Department of Biomedicine

Mette Madsen studies cellular disease mechanisms without the use of laboratory animals. Instead, she makes use of cell culture-based methodology, documenting the results and continuing her research using human tissue. Mette Madsen's research is an example of how it is possible to study new disease mechanisms and, in the long term, develop new treatment methods without the use of animal experiments.

Associate Professor Jane Hvarregaard Christensen, Department of Biomedicine

Jane Hvarregaard Christensen examines the molecular processes which keep our brains healthy. She does this based on extensive studies of the hereditary material in people who e.g. suffer from mental disorders, combining these findings with literature studies and detailed studies of neuronal cell cultures. In this way, she helps to counteract an increase in the use of laboratory animals in this particular area.

Contact

Veterinarian, PhD Birgitte Saima Kousholt
Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine
Telephone: (+45) 7845 9011
Email: birgitte.kousholt@clin.au.dk

Associate Professor Mette Madsen
Aarhus University, Department of Biomedicine
Mobile: (+45) 2899 2137
Email: mette@biomed.au.dk

Associate Professor Jane Hvarregaard Christensen
Aarhus University, Department of Biomedicine
Mobile: (+45) 9352 2003
Email: jhc@biomed.au.dk