BEST BRAD AWARD
🏆 Congratulations to the UConn Health IACUC and Center for Comparative Medicine
for being selected as the Best BRAD 2025 Award recipients!
Their BRAD celebration brought education, engagement, and community together in an unforgettable way. Held on April 17th, the event welcomed more than 300 attendees, including researchers, staff, patients, visitors, and families—many of whom shared that they left with a brand-new understanding of animal research and the robust regulations that guide it.
What made this BRAD event award-worthy:
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A collaborative effort between the IACUC and Center for Comparative Medicine
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Interactive games like the Wheel of Enrichment and Laboratory Animal Tic-Tac-Toe
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A popular Animal Fun Facts Tootsie Pop Station
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A kid-friendly activity corner with coloring, origami, and word finds
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Educational tables highlighting animal care, housing, and IACUC oversight
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A looping slideshow and video thanking animal care staff
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A lively raffle with prizes earned by answering animal welfare questions
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Tons of themed giveaways and treats—including UConn Dairy Bar ice cream made from UConn cows
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And of course, photos with Toby the therapy dog, who (along with the ice cream!) stole the show 🐾🍦
In addition, this event successfully reached non-research employees, patients, and visitors, sparking meaningful conversations about the value, care, and oversight of animals in research. Thank you to the UConn Health team for setting such a high bar—and to all BRAD participants around the world who continue to advocate for transparency, education, and compassion in science.
Congratulations to the Urbana High School - the runner-up for the Best BRAD 2025 Award
We would also like to recognize Urbana High School (Maryland) as the runner-up for this year’s Best BRAD Award. Led by Dr. Heather Zimmerman and Career Coach Ms. Tonya Chubb, Urbana High School hosted an immersive, all-day BRAD experience introducing students to careers in biomedical research through scientist-led presentations and hands-on activities. The event generated an enthusiastic response, with extensive written feedback from students and staff highlighting its educational impact and inspiration for future careers in science and medicine.
Click here to learn more about former award winners.