The genesis of the Society for Alternatives to Animal
Experiments-India (SAAE-I) could be traced back to the
establishment of Mahatma Gandhi-Doerenkamp Centre (MGDC) with
funding from Doerenkamp-Zbinden Foundation, Switzerland, in
2009, at Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu,
with the aim of fostering the 3Rs movement in India.
In
2016, the MGDC became the National Centre for Alternatives to
Animal Experiments (NCAAE) with the operational fund coming from
the University Grants Commission of Government of India. Soon it
was felt that an exclusively academic endeavour will not be able
to translate the vision of a country embolden with non-animal
methods in education, biomedical science and toxicology, and so
the supporters of non-animal methods of India come together and
establish a national society. Thus was born the Society for
Alternatives to Animal Experiments-India (SAAE-I),
head-quartered at NCAAE, Bharathidasan University,
Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu in July, 2018. The first Annual
Conference was conducted at Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, in
December, 2018, accompanied by the First Executive Committee and
General Body Meeting. SAAE-I which is now a Registered Society.
It is one of the most regular, vibrant scientific
societies in India with regular annual meets in different parts
of the country, which provide platform for all scientists CROs,
Industry and NGOs to remain connected to the domains of
3Rs/Alternatives/NAMs to meet and deliberate about shifting to
non-animal methods and evolve appropriate strategies. The SAAE-I
promotes humane education and research by way of introducing
alternatives to the use of animals which will promote the
internationally accepted “Concept of 3R’s”– or “Alternatives” –
Reduction, Refinement and Replacement – of use of animals in
education, research and testing. The SAAE-I subscribes to the
Asia Congress, and hosts the Fourth Asia Congress. It has moved
into MoU with Japanese Society for Alternatives to Animal
Experiments (JSAAE), and intends to enter into MoU with such
other International Societies. SAAE-I is a party to the Asian
Federation, which is coming up now. The Society is working for
establishment of a Validation Centre for Alternatives in India.
For the latest information
on the Society, please check the following URL
https://saae-i.org/