It may sound counterintuitive, but many people who get involved in animal research do so because they love animals. I was one of those individuals. Passionate about primate conservation and a Jane Goodall admirer, I became a student primate caretaker at Harlow Primate Lab during my undergraduate education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, knowing little about what I was getting myself into. I was eventually diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from the two years spent caring for the lab’s 500+ monkeys.

Several years after leaving the lab, and after connecting with other former lab workers and supportive individuals, I began sharing about my experience on social media. Through this advocacy and storytelling, I began receiving messages from individuals who had worked in labs and who were grateful to feel heard and understood. Thus, the idea for JUSTIFY was born.

JUSTIFY is powered by three passionate former animal lab workers, Maddie Krasno, Lindsay Oliver, and Mallory Cormier, alongside a growing community of supporters. Our dream is to make sure anyone involved in the world of scientific research feels supported, informed, and empowered to choose a path of kindness and empathy. A world where science thrives without compromising on compassion and ethics is possible, and we’re here to help make it happen. We believe that the more current and former animal lab workers that feel safe sharing their concerns and stories about the industry, the faster this industry will be phased out, saving both human and animal lives with human-relevant research.

JUSTIFY's mission is to provide support and resources to current and former lab animal workers, create a platform to advocate for ethical scientific practices, and promote the use and development of non-animal-based research methodologies.

For more info: https://linktr.ee/whenwejustify