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The SOT Enhancement of Animal Welfare Award recognizes an SOT member for contributions made to the advancement of toxicological science through the development and application of methods that replace, refine, or reduce the need for experimental animals. This award recognizes outstanding/ significant contributions made by SOT members to the scientifically sound and responsible use of animals in research. This award also serves to recognize member contributions to the public awareness of the importance of animals in toxicology research. The achievement recognized may be either a seminal piece of work or a long-term contribution to toxicological science and animal welfare.

Erin H. Hill, BA, has received the 2023 SOT Enhancement of Animal Welfare Award for her decades of work to advance both science and animal welfare. Ms. Hill leads efforts and forms partnerships with industry, government, and non-governmental organizations around the world to collaborate on the implementation of approaches that aim to improve the reliability and relevance of toxicology testing. She is internationally recognized and well-respected in the field of alternatives to animal testing.

Ms. Hill co-founded the nonprofit Institute for In Vitro Sciences Inc. (IIVS) in 1997 and currently serves as its President. IIVS is dedicated to advancing alternative methods and positively impacting animal welfare regulations. Ms. Hill’s leadership at IIVS has helped make it universally recognized as a respected organization that is a leader in the field of in vitro toxicology testing that vigorously promotes the use and acceptance of new approach methods (NAMs) worldwide.

Ms. Hill has developed IIVS into a uniquely qualified team of experts with hands-on expertise in conducting and interpreting data from in vitro methods who provide—often free of charge—training opportunities for other scientists around the world. As just one example, Ms. Hill started the Practical Methods for In Vitro Toxicology Workshop during which scientists and regulators attend lecture-style and hands-on laboratory trainings; this program has reached hundreds of scientists who then take their learnings back to their organizations for an even larger impact. She also co-created and leads the IIVS Industry Council for the Advancement of Regulatory Acceptance of Alternatives that focuses on international acceptance of in vitro methods.

Under Ms. Hill’s leadership, since 2014, IIVS has worked with the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) to assist them in adopting non-animal tests for the registration of cosmetics. A vital component of the memorandum of understanding that IIVS has with CFDA is to provide in-depth training for provincial regulators. One early success of this collaboration was the acceptance by the CFDA of the in vitro 3T3 Neutral Red Uptake Phototoxicity Assay. This achievement was recognized by the inaugural LUSH Training Prize.

Ms. Hill also has been involved in training sessions in Vietnam, Japan, and Brazil, demonstrating her global influence.

Ms. Hill has been active SOT member since 1990 through engagement with multiple SOT Specialty Sections, serving as a Chair for Scientific Sessions, and presenting lectures during SOT events. She also is a co-founder, a board member, and the treasurer of the American Society for Cellular and Computational Toxicology and a board member of the European Society for Toxicology In Vitro, the In Vitro Testing Industrial Platform, and the Johns Hopkins University Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing and holds leadership positions with numerous other organizations.