Our Philosophy

We believe that innovative and effective policy solutions are born in a space of collaboration. Problems don’t exist in a vacuum–they may be intertwined into the very fabric of all of our lives. Finding common ground and shared perspectives about these problems we share can help determine next steps in a spirit of mutual trust and cooperation. So let’s sit at the table together and see where the conversation takes us. Our differences may also be our strength–and a bridge to lasting change.

Ellie Hansen, Co-Founder of The Marty Project

Ellie Hansen is an award-winning writer as well as a business and nonprofit leader. Ellie has been an ardent advocate to end the use of dogs in used in human product safety testing for over a decade. She holds a B.A. degree in Mass Communications & Public Relations from Bloomsburg University.

Ellie’s published works include two books and magazine articles focusing on profound human relationships with dogs. In 2015, Ellie adopted two beagles who were used for pharmaceutical testing. Ellie’s most recent book Laboratory Dogs Rescued: From Test Subjects to Beloved Companions was inspired by her experience of rehabilitating her adopted beagles, and her own educational foray into the larger social and ethical issues of laboratory dogs.

She also produced and hosted an educational podcast. In 2024, Ellie completed a year-long U.S road tour during which she hand-delivered a signed petition to dog testing facilities asking them to cease testing on dogs and invest in evidence-based, human-relevant technologies instead. Ellie visited nearly 40 testing facilities in 22 states, gaining over 17,000 signatures for the petition.

Ellie is currently co-founder of The Marty Project, where she plans to serve as Executive Director.

Our Team

Announcing our Board of Directors and additional Team Members soon - stay tuned!

Amy Van Aartsen, Co-Founder of The Marty Project

Amy Van Aartsen is a triple alum from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in Organic Chemistry (MS), Public Health (MPH), and Biochemistry (BS). She currently works in medical research using novel alternative methods, including diseased patient-derived cell lines.

She believes that the technology largely already exists to move away from using dogs for human product safety testing and this issue can be tackled through a public health dissemination and implementation approach supported by legislative changes. Amy hopes her background in science and public health will be an asset to working collaboratively with policy makers, scientists, and biotechnology companies to better understand and address barriers to implementing new technology so we can promote dog welfare while simultaneously advancing science.

Amy has had the privilege of having beagles as companion animals throughout her life. She is the proud dog parent to her beagle, Maggie. Amy has also been organizing at the grassroots level for the last several years after she first learned about the issue of dogs being used for human product safety testing. Amy is currently Co-Founder of The Marty Project, where she plans to serve as Director of Science.

*Amy's views are solely her own and do not represent that of her employer.