David Ruffieux studied at the University of Saskachewan as a doctoral student where he worked on a rat model of spinal cord injury. In 2001, after terminating prematurely his program, he moved to Montreal and worked as a research assistant at the General Jewish Hospital, later as a medical writer and as a project manager for the pharmaceutical industry.

He decided to found the 'Canadians for the Advancement of Health Research (CAHR)' as a response to the widely accepted use of animal models. As a director of CAHR, and with the support of activists, scientific and medical advisors, he help organize an educational campaign to promote the better recognition and use of alternatives in health research.