Doctors Against Animal Experiments

Doctors Against Animal Experiments (DAAE), known in German as Ärzte gegen Tierversuche, is a Cologne-based voluntary association founded in 1979 by neurologists Margot and Herbert Stiller together with other physicians. It presents opposition to animal experimentation as both an ethical and a scientific position. Its central argument is that results obtained from animals frequently fail to predict human disease, treatment response, toxicity, and safety, because animal physiology and disease mechanisms differ from those of humans. The association therefore advocates replacing experiments on animals with research approaches based directly on human biology. From its earliest years, DAAE combined public education with technical criticism of laboratory research. Before the internet became central to campaigning, members distributed publications, wrote to political decision-makers, gave lectures, published books and articles, and responded to media inquiries. The organization’s public message is summarized by the principle that medical progress matters but animal experimentation is the wrong route to achieving it. Its research team evaluates scientific literature, explains animal studies in language accessible to non-specialists, and promotes alternatives including human cell cultures, organoids, organ-on-a-chip and multi-organ-chip systems, computer modelling, epidemiology, and clinical research. The association operates several information and research projects. Its animal-experiment database, maintained since 1998, summarizes studies reported in scientific journals and is intended to make the procedures, species, and claimed purposes of experiments visible to the public. In 2020, DAAE launched the bilingual NAT (Non-Animal Technologies) database, a searchable resource for animal-free methods. The database is aimed at researchers, regulators, politicians, journalists, and the general public and includes methods based on human cells, computational models, and other non-animal technologies. DAAE also pursues political, legal, educational, and campaign work. It comments on proposed chemical tests under the European Union’s REACH framework, challenges the construction or expansion of animal laboratories, supports legal action concerning alleged mistreatment, and organizes information stalls, demonstrations, lectures, specialist congresses, and public voting campaigns. Its Eastern Europe project supplies universities with computer simulations, films, dummies, laptops, and projectors so that teaching can be conducted without animal use. The association says that agreements with universities and institutes have prevented the use of tens of thousands of animals in teaching each year. Its awards program includes the Herbert Stiller Prize, which recognizes human-based, animal-free medical research, and the annual negative “Heart of Stone” award, which draws attention to animal experiments that DAAE considers especially cruel or scientifically questionable. The organization has also campaigned against the mouse-based LD50 testing historically used for batches of botulinum toxin products, including Botox. According to the association, major manufacturers subsequently adopted animal-free testing methods for much of their production. DAAE states that it is independent of pharmaceutical companies and universities and is financed through donations and membership fees. Its membership base includes physicians, veterinarians, dentists, psychologists, medical scientists, and supporting members. The association remains an activist and educational organization rather than a commercial product brand. Its public-facing work focuses on ending animal experimentation, encouraging human-relevant biomedical research, and changing legislation, research funding, university teaching, and public attitudes.

Doctors Against Animal Experiments was founded in Hamburg in 1979 by neurologists Margot and Herbert Stiller and other doctors. The founders had already published a book questioning animal experimentation from a medical and scientific perspective. Rather than treating opposition to animal research solely as an animal-protection issue, they argued that animal models could mislead medicine because findings in one species cannot reliably be transferred to humans. During its first decades, the association relied on publications, lectures, correspondence with politicians and authorities, media work, and local activist groups. In 1990, it supported the dissemination of Bernhard Rambeck’s book The Myth of Animal Testing, which examined recurring arguments used to justify laboratory animal use. The association’s broader educational approach has remained consistent: document experiments, explain their methodology and welfare consequences, challenge claims about their medical value, and present non-animal alternatives. In 1995, DAAE established the Herbert Stiller Prize to encourage human-based medical research, particularly among younger doctors and scientists. The prize has recognized in-vitro, clinical, and epidemiological work that avoids animal experiments. In 1998, the organization began operating a database of animal experiments reported in scientific literature. It translates technical descriptions into material that non-specialists can understand and uses the database to support public and political debate. The association expanded its international educational work in 2008 through the Eastern Europe Project, later called Saving Animals with Computers. It supplied universities and teaching institutes with computer simulations, films, anatomical models, and related hardware. Participating institutions were asked to discontinue animal experiments and animal-consuming teaching exercises. The project has involved institutions in countries including Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. From 2007 onward, DAAE campaigned against lethal mouse testing used in the production and batch release of botulinum toxin. It also became involved in European chemical-testing policy. Since 2009, together with the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments, it has reviewed proposed REACH tests submitted to European regulators, looking for existing data or alternative methods that could make new animal testing unnecessary. A major part of the association’s work has concerned experiments on rhesus monkeys used in neuroscience. DAAE had campaigned against brain research on monkeys in Tübingen since 2009. After video material concerning conditions at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics became public in 2014, the association filed a criminal complaint in 2015. The proceedings were later discontinued after payment of a fine. The controversy generated criticism from defenders of animal research, who disputed DAAE’s assessment of the scientific value of alternatives and its proximity to mainstream biomedical research. Later-publicized veterinary autopsy records concerning monkeys from Tübingen intensified debate about the extent of skull injuries and suffering. In 2017, DAAE introduced the Heart of Stone award, an annual negative prize selected through public voting. Recipients have included research groups and institutions conducting experiments involving rodents, songbirds, dogs, and rhesus monkeys. The award is intended to create public scrutiny rather than confer a commercial distinction. The NAT database, launched on July 29, 2020, marked a further shift toward infrastructure for animal-free science. It gathers international examples of methods based on human cells, organoids, computer models, and other technologies. DAAE has also opposed proposals to build or expand animal laboratories and has promoted monuments and public events addressing laboratory-animal use. The association remains active as a donation- and membership-funded advocacy body headquartered in Cologne, with work spanning scientific analysis, public education, political lobbying, litigation support, university teaching, and direct campaigning.

• 2023

  Erlangen memorial unveiled

  [1]Doctors Against Animal Experimentsen.wikipedia.org

  A monument commemorating laboratory animals and opposing animal experimentation was installed in Erlangen.

• 2020

  NAT database launched

  [1]Doctors Against Animal Experimentsen.wikipedia.org

  DAAE launched a bilingual database of non-animal technologies and human-relevant research methods.

• 2017

  Heart of Stone award introduced

  [1]Doctors Against Animal Experimentsen.wikipedia.org

  DAAE began its annual public negative award for selected animal experiments.

• 2009

  REACH and monkey-research campaigns expand

  [1]Doctors Against Animal Experimentsen.wikipedia.org

  DAAE intensified its work on EU chemical testing and its opposition to monkey neuroscience experiments in Tübingen.

• 2008

  Eastern Europe Project launched

  [1]Doctors Against Animal Experimentsen.wikipedia.org

  The association began supplying universities with computer-based alternatives to animal use in teaching.

• 2007

  Botulinum-toxin testing campaign begins

  [1]Doctors Against Animal Experimentsen.wikipedia.org

  DAAE launched a campaign against lethal mouse testing for botulinum toxin batches.

• 1998

  Animal-experiment database begins

  [1]Doctors Against Animal Experimentsen.wikipedia.org

  The association began compiling accessible summaries of animal experiments described in scientific publications.

• 1995

  Herbert Stiller Prize established

  [1]Doctors Against Animal Experimentsen.wikipedia.org

  DAAE created a prize promoting innovative medical research that does not use animals.

• 1979

  Association founded

  [1]Doctors Against Animal Experimentsen.wikipedia.org

  Margot and Herbert Stiller and other physicians founded Doctors Against Animal Experiments in Hamburg.

Independent medical and scientific advocacy association focused on the abolition of animal experimentation and the advancement of human-relevant, animal-free research and education.

• Research database · 2020

  NAT (Non-Animal Technologies) database

  A bilingual, freely accessible database designed to help researchers and other users locate animal-free methods. Entries cover human-cell systems, organoids, computational approaches, and other technologies, with summaries, subject filters, source references, and information about researchers and institutions.

• Research and public-information database · 1998

  Database on animal experiments

  A collection of accessible summaries based on scientific publications describing animal experiments in Germany. It is intended to show the procedures and claimed purposes of laboratory studies to audiences without specialist training.

• Research award · 1995

  Herbert Stiller Prize

  A prize named after co-founder Herbert Stiller that recognizes innovative human-based medical research, including in-vitro, clinical, and epidemiological work, when it contributes to replacing animal experimentation.

• Educational program · 2008

  Saving Animals with Computers

  An educational-support program providing universities and teaching institutes with computer simulations, films, dummies, laptops, and projectors. Participating institutions undertake to avoid animal experiments and animal-consuming practical classes.

• 2014

  Controversy over monkey experiments in Tübingen

  Published recordings concerning the treatment of rhesus monkeys at a Max Planck Institute intensified criticism of laboratory conditions. DAAE filed a criminal complaint in 2015; the proceedings were later discontinued after payment of a fine. The episode prompted continuing disputes over animal welfare, research oversight, and the association’s interpretation of the science.

  Source

Read more

• 2020NAT database

  International

  DAAE launched a bilingual platform to improve the discoverability of non-animal technologies.

  Outcome. The database became a public resource for researchers, regulators, media, and other audiences seeking animal-free methods.

  Source
• 2017Heart of Stone

  Germany

  An annual public-voting campaign highlights animal experiments that DAAE considers especially cruel or scientifically indefensible.

  Outcome. Recipients have included institutions conducting experiments on rodents, songbirds, dogs, and rhesus monkeys.

  Source
• 2009REACH animal-testing intervention

  European Union

  DAAE and the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments reviewed proposed chemical tests under REACH and searched for existing data or alternative methods.

  Outcome. DAAE reported that its interventions helped avoid proposed testing involving many animals.

  Source
• 2009Campaign against monkey brain research in Tübingen

  Germany

  The association campaigned against neuroscience experiments on rhesus monkeys at research institutes in Tübingen.

  Outcome. The campaign generated public controversy, legal proceedings, and continuing debate about animal welfare and the scientific validity of the research.

  Source
• 2008Eastern Europe Project – Saving Animals with Computers

  Ukraine · Russia · Belarus · Kyrgyzstan · Uzbekistan

  DAAE supplied institutes with non-animal teaching technologies and sought contractual commitments to end animal-consuming instruction.

  Outcome. The association reported agreements with dozens of institutes and substantial reductions in animals used for university teaching.

  Source
• 2007Botox and botulinum-toxin testing campaign

  Germany · Europe

  DAAE opposed the lethal mouse LD50 test historically used to assess batches of botulinum toxin for medical and cosmetic products.

  Outcome. The association reported that three major manufacturers moved largely toward animal-free testing methods from 2011.

  Source

• 2020

  Launch of the NAT databaseProduct launch

  Background

  DAAE argued that animal-free methods were difficult to discover because conventional literature systems were dominated by animal-study publications.

  Action taken

  It created a searchable bilingual database covering human-based and computational research technologies.

  Aftermath

  The resource broadened the association’s role from campaigning against animal tests to actively supporting their replacement.

  Source

• 2008

  Expansion into animal-free university teachingStrategy

  Background

  Universities in Eastern Europe continued to use animals in practical instruction, while computer-based alternatives were available but insufficiently resourced.

  Action taken

  DAAE began providing hardware, software, films, and anatomical dummies in exchange for commitments to discontinue relevant animal use.

  Aftermath

  The project expanded across several Eastern European countries and was reported by DAAE to have prevented substantial annual animal use.

  Source

1. 1Doctors Against Animal Experimentsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Doctors Against Animal Experiments official websiteaerzte-gegen-tierversuche.de