EcoVegAnimals continues work to end animal testing at University of Sarajevo
We support animal-free science conference in Bosnia and Herzegovina
We participated in a conference on non-animal testing methods in biomedical education organised by our Bosnian member, EcoVegAnimals, at which the University of Sarajevo confirmed its commitment to permanently prohibit the use of animals in its Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy Faculty – the second department of the University to do so.
Our Director of Public Affairs, Dylan Underhill, gave a presentation on ‘Collaborative Strategies to End Animal Testing in Europe’ to highlight the importance of working together across borders on a shared mission and learning from each other’s successes.
The conference, ‘Non-Animal Approaches in Biomedical Education’, at the Hotel Hollywood in Sarajevo, was attended by experts, academics and students from across Europe to promote the use of innovative non-animal methods in the discovery and development of new drugs, and biomedical education and research.
Speakers shared the unique challenges and opportunities of working with limited resources and a complicated political environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Among those delivering presentations was the EU Reference Laboratory for alternatives to animal testing (EURL ECVAM), which is part of the European Commission’s science and knowledge service, the Joint Research Centre.
There were also wider discussions on operating in the Western Balkans, particularly the possibility of alignment with EU standards before countries including Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina complete their applications to join the European Union.
The closing ceremony of the two-day conference saw Professor Fahir Bečić, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, and EVA President, Nora Mahmutović, sign an agreement of cooperation to confirm the University’s commitment to prohibiting the use of animals forever and advancing ethical biomedical education.
The Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy Faculty is the second University of Sarajevo department to formally commit to prohibiting the use of animals in its work, after EVA previously worked with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. EVA are two-time winners of our Geoffrey Deckers Award, which recognises groups working in Europe to end animal testing, and the 2024 conference was partly funded by the prize money received from the award.
Dylan Underhill said: “This conference was of great importance in several ways. Not only was it a brilliant example of the work that Cruelty Free Europe members do in their own countries, it was also further evidence of the growing desire across Europe to adopt collaborative approaches to ending animal testing. The theme of my presentation was ‘Stronger Together’ and events such as this allow us to build a network of knowledge, resources and action. There is a clear passion for sharing and learning, and we have all learnt from the example set by EcoVegAnimals. Our thanks and congratulations go to them, and everyone who took part.”
There were also wider discussions on operating in the Western Balkans, particularly the possibility of alignment with EU standards before countries including Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina complete their applications to join the European Union.
The closing ceremony of the two-day conference saw Professor Fahir Bečić, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, and EVA President, Nora Mahmutović, sign an agreement of cooperation to confirm the University’s commitment to prohibiting the use of animals forever and advancing ethical biomedical education.
The Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy Faculty is the second University of Sarajevo department to formally commit to prohibiting the use of animals in its work, after EVA previously worked with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. EVA are two-time winners of our Geoffrey Deckers Award, which recognises groups working in Europe to end animal testing, and the 2024 conference was partly funded by the prize money received from the award.
Dylan Underhill said: “This conference was of great importance in several ways. Not only was it a brilliant example of the work that Cruelty Free Europe members do in their own countries, it was also further evidence of the growing desire across Europe to adopt collaborative approaches to ending animal testing. The theme of my presentation was ‘Stronger Together’ and events such as this allow us to build a network of knowledge, resources and action. There is a clear passion for sharing and learning, and we have all learnt from the example set by EcoVegAnimals. Our thanks and congratulations go to them, and everyone who took part.”