A Helpathon HELPS to OVERCOME HURDLES
We learned from our Helpathon experience that researchers are not always open to consider animal free methods even though they would prefer that. They have insufficient knowledge about the potential of new innovative models. They believe this limits their publication options. They lack the experience to enter into a dialogue with the regulator to plead for animal free research methods. They have insufficient motivation to develop, implement and optimize and to find the funds to finance the development of their new practice. An Helpathon can help them overcome these hurdles.
A Helpathon HELPS to seize NEW POSSIBILITIES
The more we know about a certain health aspect, the more opportunities we see for new, non-animal research methods to develop good medicines and therapies. Experience shows that animal-free innovation becomes easier, if you choose to do so together: with patients, doctors, health professionals, researchers, financiers, advisory committees and policy makers. And that is precisely what happens during a Helpathon.
Helpathon practice
At least 8 people and 24 hours
A helpathon should preferably take place for a minimum of 24 consecutive hours. Spending a night over it helps to process what you have thought up and what you have observed. A night's sleep also provides room for new insights or ideas. A helpathon takes place with at least eight people. That guarantees the dynamics.
The invitation
A helpathon starts with a good, clear and urgent question. It is important to formulate the right question in the right invitation in advance. To develop the framework within which the helpathon takes place. During a TPI helpathon, the research question is disconnected from the research method. A good research question is valuable in itself, just as a good research method is. Disconnecting these two issues creates more room for new research questions and research methods.
The opening phase
The opening phase lasts at least half a day and is based on Open Space Technology and therefore has no predetermined agenda. Everything that participants find really important in relation to the central question - the theme of the helpathon - is covered.
The make and try out phase
The phase starts with an "imagination in power" session, in which solutions are described as if they already exist. This phase is interrupted with a night's sleep. That is a natural way to filter ideas and reset information. The next day the ideas that last are tried out further.
Make communicable phase
The helpathon ends with a festive presentation of the results to those involved or interested people from the participants' network.
Join us!
Are you involved in health research? Would you also prefer to contribute to animal health free of animal testing? Are you curious about innovative research methods? And are you open to sharing knowledge? Then sign up for the next ONLINE help session or TPI Helpathon.
Helpathon Masterclass
Bij the end of 2020 fourteen professionals participants of the Helpathon Masterclass offered by Mister Lion will be able to start their own Helpathon practice.
Innovation network
Our network is part of the Dutch TPI program. Together with a wide range of partners from industry, policy, academics and NGOs the Dutch government started the Transition Programme for animal-free Innovations (TPI). This programme brings professionals and stakeholders from different sectors and fields together to discover and mainstream promising new ways of conceptualising and organising animal-free research. Further information