We are thrilled to share most exciting news of the year. Today, we officially announce the very first winner of the W.E Bradshaw University Innovation Grant.

Just over a year ago, in May 2025, the NZAVS team and board came together for our annual Hui. The most pressing topic of the day: how can we make a difference in Aotearoa, and end harmful animal testing & experimentation for good? It is certainly an issue that has been at the forefront of our minds for many years.

When Bette Overell set up NZAVS in 1978, it was her dream to see that no animal would ever be harmed in the name of science ever again. Bette was a formidable woman – she organised some of the biggest protests and marches seen in NZ history in her quest to end animal testing. It is thanks to people like her, and supporters like you, that we have had big wins. Certainly the ban of cosmetic testing on animals in New Zealand will be remembered as a historic win for animals.

Why Campaigning Alone Isn't Enough

But what do we do about the hundreds of thousands of animals that are still harmed in the name of science in Aotearoa? NZAVS has lobbied the government for change in this area for decades. We have protested, we have marched, we have had tens of thousands of people sign petitions for this cruel practice to end. But the government is too slow to act.

The latest statistics from MPI in 2024 reveal a harsh reality:

• Over 600,000 animals were used for research, testing or teaching purposes
• Over 100,000 died in the name of science
• Over 130,000 were killed as “excess” – their punishment of death was simply because they were considered “waste” to the research industry.

It is clear that we will not make progress fast enough through campaigning alone.

We need to BE the solution, not wait for the solution.

And so, the idea of the W.E Bradshaw Grant was born. Mr Bradshaw was a staunch supporter of NZAVS, and it was his dream to see the end of harmful animal testing & experimentation in New Zealand. Thanks to the generous gift left to NZAVS in his Will, we are able to award $50,000 to a researcher who is replacing the use of animals in science in New Zealand.

So, without further ado, drumroll please....

Announcing Our Winner!

The first winner of the W.E Bradshaw University Innovation Grant is Dr Indranil Basak, from Victoria University

Project title: 'Mini brains to identify population-specific Parkinson’s disease pathologies'

This project starts with human skin cells that are reprogrammed to grow into the different cell types of tiny 'mini‑brains in a dish' and behave like real human brain cells. Using samples from Pasifika patients with Parkinson’s disease, the team can study how the condition develops in real people and explores ways to repair the damage.

They are studying three groups of mini‑brains: one showing Parkinson’s symptoms, one where they attempt to repair the damage, and one healthy group for comparison.

With support from AI, this work is building a powerful human‑relevant model for developing future Parkinson’s treatments.

Why This Matters

Animal‑based Parkinson’s research is slow, costly, and causes significant suffering. By choosing organoids and organ‑on‑a‑chip technologies instead, this project delivers human‑relevant insights far faster and at a fraction of the cost.

An equivalent animal study could cost up to $200,000 and use dozens of animals, while our $50,000 grant funds the entire animal‑free project. That's a 75% cost saving and no animals harmed.

We're Building a Sustainable Future

At NZAVS, we have been impressed by the excellence of applicants in the pilot round, and we are grateful to see universities so deeply engaged in advancing non‑animal research. In fact, choosing just one winner from our extraordinary finalists was incredibly difficult.

We are deeply committed to creating a world where animal testing is no longer the norm, and we are excited to bring you along on this journey.

NZAVS is proud to support research that demonstrates ethical, human-relevant approaches can lead the way in creating a more effective future for science.
This grant reflects NZAVS’ ongoing commitment to supporting innovative research that replaces animal use and strengthens the case for better science.
‍Sam La Hood, Board Chair

This is only the beginning of what we can achieve together. An exciting announcement is coming at the end of the week...stay tuned.