We feel very strongly about animal rights and hope that someday our artistic efforts may help change some minds. Animal testing is a barbaric practice that is not only cruel, but also unnecessary and inconclusive. Some examples of testing alternatives used in the U.S. are:

• National Cancer Institute adopted in vitro initial screen for anti-cancer compounds – immediately replacing more than a million mice per year.

• Episkin – a reconstructed human in vitro epidermis for evaluation of corrosivity of cosmetics, pharmaceutical and chemical compounds.

• Corrositex – a two-chambered system with collagen membrane. Color (pH) change when test chemical penetrates to indicator chamber (widely used in the U.S. and Europe for corrosivity testing).

• Computerized chemical structure-activity relationship (SAR) and knowledge-based expert systems allow prediction of efficacy and safety/toxicity of new compounds.

• Epiocular- a reproducible, multi-layered human cell-derived tissue for testing ocular irritancy of chemicals and other materials.

• EpiAirway- is a three-dimensional culture of human tracheal-bronchial epithelial cells for pre-clinical studies of inhalation drugs.

• Epiderm- is a reproducible, three-dimensional, human cell-derived skin tissue for studies of corrosives and irritants.

• Ames test uses specific strains of common bacteria to detect genetic changes caused by test substances – mutagenesis and carcinogenesis possibilities.

• Toxicogenomics utilizes DNA chips to identify pattern of gene changes characteristic of specific toxicity endpoints. Will ultimately replace nearly all current animal-based tests.

_{Examples taken from the AAVS website. For more info click here}

ALL proceeds will be donated to the American Anti-Vivisection Society.