NC3Rs

Supporting 3Rs approaches in biologicals testing

NEW SURVEY. Do you manufacture, regulate or produce biological therapeutics? Help the NC3Rs shape the future of non-animal pyrogenicity testing of biologics: nc3rs.org.uk/our-portfoli...

Register now for an afternoon of networking and expert insights at an event that brings together researchers, clinicians and neurosurgeons to discuss the practicalities and potential of using human brain tissue to replace animal models in neuroscience.

A brain tissue slice with cells stained and viewed under a microscope.

Join researchers, clinicians and neurosurgeons for an afternoon of expert insights and networking to discuss the practicalities and potential of using human brain tissue to replace animal models in neuroscience.

📅 Friday 7 November, 13.00 – 16.00
📍 UCL, London
Register: nc3rs.org.uk/events/using...

Recordings available: nc3rs.org.uk/crackit/tech...

Watch presentations from six model developers to learn more about their technologies and explore new partnerships to access 3Rs approaches for your oncology research.

PhD students in an experimental design workshop at the NC3Rs-BBSRC summer school.

We were delighted to welcome 12 BBSRC-funded PhD students to our annual summer school this year alongside NC3Rs-funded students. Our training for early career researchers focuses on their role as ambassadors for the 3Rs throughout their PhD and beyond.

💡 Read more: nc3rs.org.uk/news/trainin...

The Experimental Design Assistant (EDA) is back online. Thank you for your patience while we undertook some core maintenance of the system.

Please note that our Experimental Design Assistant (EDA) eda.nc3rs.org.uk will be offline tomorrow from 4pm (BST) for planned maintenance.

Full details 👇.

We use the term new approach methodologies (NAMs) to refer to full and partial replacement approaches for assessing chemical or drug toxicity. Non-animal methods describe full replacement approaches irrespective of the scientific discipline they are used in. Read more: nc3rs.org.uk/replacement-...

Are you a researcher, developer, or industry/regulatory user of NAMs?

Join our webinar with @brittoxsoc.bsky.social on how AI can improve safety assessment and reduce reliance on animals: nc3rs.org.uk/events/artif...

⏰ Registration closes: 24 September, 14.00
📅 Webinar: 25 September, 14.00 – 16.00

Report cover page: Incorporating new approach methodologies in the development of new medicines.

New report from the NC3Rs, in collaboration with @abpi.bsky.social and MHRA, explores how New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) can transform the way new medicines are developed, harnessing cutting edge human relevant technologies and reducing reliance on animal testing.
nc3rs.org.uk/news/incorpo...

Final week to register! Join us at our next Technology Partn3Ring webinar to collaborate with academics and SMEs developing the latest 3Rs technologies in cancer research: nc3rs.org.uk/events/techn...

⏰Registration closes: Tuesday 23 September, 14.00
📅 Webinar: Wednesday 24 September, 14.00 – 15.15

A black mouse with a litter of pups in a laboratory cage.

Join us next week to learn more about misconceptions around sex-inclusive research and how the Sex Inclusive Research Framework can be used by scientists, ethical review bodies and funders: nc3rs.org.uk/events/tackl...

📅 18 September, 15.00 – 16.00

📜 One hour of continuing professional development

British Pharmacological Society and British Neuroscience Association logos, overlaid on an illustration of neurons. Text reads: 'Dosing in animal models of neuroscience. Time to challenge the status quo? 23 September 2025, online'.

Online conference: Dosing in animal models of neuroscience

@britpharmsoc.bsky.social ‬and @britishneuro.bsky.social ‬are hosting an online conference to explore 3Rs opportunities in preclinical dosing practices for neuropharmacology research.

📅 23 Sept, 9.30 – 16.15

👉 nc3rs.org.uk/events/dosin...

Teach others how to use the EDA to design rigorous in vivo experiments that use the minimum number of animals: nc3rs.org.uk/events/ukrn-...

⏳ Registration closing soon: Wednesday 17 September

🤝Delivered by @drejpearl.bsky.social and @ukrepro.bsky.social

📅 Thursday 13 November, 10.00 – 16.00 (GMT)

Dr Renata Nundes receiving a poster award from the European Society for Alternatives to Animal Testing (EUSAAT) at WC13 in Rio.

Congratulations to Dr Renata Nundes for winning the EUSAAT poster award at WC13! It is fantastic to see further global recognition of her in vitro assay to replace mice in snake antivenom potency testing, which was highly commended in this years’ International 3Rs Prize: nc3rs.org.uk/news/3rs-pri...

Cartoon icon of a cancer cells surrounded by icons of lightbulbs, shaking hands and silhouettes.

Are you interested in the latest 3Rs technologies in oncology research? Join us at our next Technology Partn3Ring webinar for opportunities to collaborate and access new 3Rs models.
📅 Wednesday 24 September, 14.00 – 15.15 (BST)
👉 Register now: nc3rs.org.uk/events/techn...

A zebrafish is held in a hand net and swabbed.

We are supporting in-person training workshops to promote the use of skin swabbing as a refined approach for genotyping zebrafish.
🐟 Suitable for technical staff and researchers
🤝 Personalised support in small groups
📍 Delivered at your facility (UK only)

Find out more: nc3rs.org.uk/training-wor...

A staff member performing a welfare check on mice. They are standing in front of a rack of cages and holding one cage in their hand to inspect the mice.

Register now for two upcoming sessions on minimising animal suffering with early interventions and refined humane endpoints.

📅 11 and 16 September, 12.30 – 13.30
🙋🏻‍ For animal technicians, ethics committee members and researchers
📜 Certificates of attendance available
👉 nc3rs.org.uk/welfare-webi...

Headshot of NC3Rs programme managers Elliot Lilley on a WC13 background featuring the conference logo and the text: '3Rs integrating 3 worlds. Human, animal and environmental health. August 31 - September 4, 2025. Rio de Janerio, Brazil.'

Elliot Lilley is co-chairing a session on transitioning away from animal testing for vaccine quality control testing. He will be sharing our work to integrate the 3Rs into WHO guidelines and accelerate the global adoption of non-animal testing methods.

💉 Find out more: nc3rs.org.uk/events/world...

Headshots of NC3Rs programme managers Esther Pearl and James Barker on a WC13 background featuring the conference logo and the text: '3Rs integrating 3 worlds. Human, animal and environmental health. August 31 - September 4, 2025. Rio de Janerio, Brazil.'

If you are attending WC13, make sure you connect with @james-barker.bsky.social and @drejpearl.bsky.social from our Experimental Design and Reporting team to learn more about resources to embed the 3Rs in the planning and publication of research.

📝 Find out more: nc3rs.org.uk/events/world...

Icons representing safety assessment (a chemical structure, a warning label, medicines, a lab flask, a computer, a rat and an environmental scene) connected in a microchip-style design. Text reads: AI in safety assessment.

Webinar: Future perspectives on artificial intelligence in safety assessment

Three leading experts will discuss how AI and approaches such as machine learning can be used to improve toxicity prediction and reduce the reliance on animal models.

📅 25 September, 14.00
👉 nc3rs.org.uk/events/artif...

Icons representing NC3Rs Networks in oncology, cardiovascular science and new approach methodologies for safety assessment.

⏳ Registration closing on Thursday 28 August!

Interested in driving the uptake and impact of 3Rs models and technologies through cross sector collaborations? Join us and the BBSRC in London on September 12 as we launch our new joint funding initiative.

Find out more: nc3rs.org.uk/events/nc3rs...

A staff member performing a welfare check on mice. They are standing in front of a rack of cages and holding one cage in their hand to inspect the mice.

The next webinar in our welfare series will focus on refined humane endpoints and early interventions. Join us next month, across two lunchtime sessions, with expert speakers from academia and industry.

📅 Part 1: Thursday 11 September.
📅 Part 2: Tuesday 16 September.

👉 nc3rs.org.uk/welfare-webi...

Dr Esther Pearl, NC3Rs Programme Manager, standing behind a stall at a scientific conference. The table has a selection of NC3Rs resources. There is a poster on using the Experimental Design Assistant and the ARRIVE guidelines in teaching.

Dr Esther Pearl, NC3Rs Programme Manager, giving a talk at a scientific conference.

Thank you to everyone who came to hear Esther talk about outputs from a joint workshop we held with @rspcalabanimal.bsky.social to discuss evidence-based refinements for amphibian welfare.

Visit our conference stand to find out more about NC3Rs resources relevant to research involving Xenopus.

The picture shows in vitro techniques on the left, and a snake sitting on vials of antivenom on the right. Image credit: Steve Townsley.

Thank you to the 100+ people from 24 countries who joined us at our 20th International 3Rs Prize ceremony to hear about work to replace animal-derived antibodies and in vivo antivenom tests, and to GSK who have sponsored the Prize from the start.

Watch the recording: nc3rs.org.uk/news/3rs-pri...

A technician working in a zebrafish aquaculture facility standing between rows of tanks.

As a commonly used species in research, interest in how to maintain and promote higher standards of welfare for zebrafish continues to grow.

This webinar adds to our resource library which includes guidance on all aspects of the use of zebrafish in research: nc3rs.org.uk/3rs-resource...

Webinar recording and Q&A available: Improving the lives of laboratory zebrafish

Professor Robert Gerlai explores how optimising housing and handling improves zebrafish welfare and research quality.

👉 nc3rs.org.uk/3rs-resource-library/welfare-webinar-improving-lives-laboratory-zebrafish

The EDA logo next to an experimental design diagram. Text below reads: 'Train the trainer'.

Looking for support to teach experimental design? Join our online workshop with @ukrepro.bsky.social on using the Experimental Design Assistant (EDA) to plan rigorous, reproducible animal studies.

📅 13 November, 10.00 – 16.00 (GMT)
❗ Registration closes: 17 September
👉 nc3rs.org.uk/events/ukrn-...

Logo of the 20th International Xenopus Conference.

Are you attending the 20th International Xenopus Conference in August? 🐸

Esther Pearl (@drejpearl.bsky.social) will be sharing our work and resources relevant to research involving Xenopus, including improving experimental design and refining husbandry practices: nc3rs.org.uk/events/20th-...