about us

For the first time in India and perhaps in the world, in a unique blend of "science" and "conscience", renowned scientists, philosophers, economists and academia have joined hands to create the International Centre for Alternatives in Research and Education (I-CARE). I-CARE will work to replace a science that hurts and kills with a science that will help and heal. At I-CARE a science with an ethical code will find thought, expression and action. This centre will help scientists, students and teachers recognize a new work ethic and help empower them to create an enduring tradition of pro-life choices.

I-CARE will proactively work to promote and propagate the use of alternative methods in research and the use of non animal teaching aids and progressive and pedagogically superior tools in veterinary, pharmacology, medical and life science education. I-CARE also stands firmly committed, to work to mitigate any pain or suffering in laboratory animals across the world.

The objectives of I-CARE are:

1. to proactively advocate, propagate and facilitate the use of alternatives to the use of animals in basic biomedical research, regulatory testing and education;

2. to sensitize technical, scientific, animal welfare personnel and students the ethical codes, scientific innovations and laws in the use and care of laboratory animals and the use of alternatives through contact and distant learning courses;

3. to function as an information and resource centre for alternatives in basic biomedical research, regulatory testing and education;

4. to actively liaise with regulatory authorities and relevant government bodies, for the use and implementation of internationally validated alternatives in regulatory testing;

5. to liaise with national/international councils/commissions, universities and academia to promote the replacement of animals used in education and the introduction of advanced and modern pedagogic tools such as Computer Assisted Learning (CAL), models and mannekins, self experimentation apparatus etc.;

6. to establish a library and loan system for alternatives in veterinary, pharmacology, medical and life science education;

7. to work to mitigate any form of pain, neglect and suffering of laboratory animals, by way of recourse to law, direct intervention, rehabilitation and/or any other form of assistance;

8. to seek justice in case of any violation of national/international norms/law/statutory guidelines in laboratory animal care and use;

9. to propagate the concept of the 4th R - Rehabilitation of laboratory animals and assist in the same;

10. to network with institutes/rehabilitation centers worldwide that invest time and effort in the care of rehabilitated laboratory animals;

11. to encourage, support and conduct behavioral/ethological studies on rehabilitated animals in order to study the physiological and psychological impact on experimented and caged animals;

12. to encourage the development of alternatives in education and research - tools and techniques, models, mannekins, cell/tissue culture and establishment of human tissue banks.