NC3Rs

Register for our next virtual workshop on using the Experimental Design Assistant (EDA): nc3rs.org.uk/events/exper...

📅 Wednesday 4 March, 16.00 – 18.00 (GMT)
⏰ Registration closes: Tuesday 3 March
📜 Certificates of attendance available for one CPD point

Delegates in discussion at a scientific meeting.

To support delivery of the UK Government’s alternatives strategy, we are working with @innovateuk.bsky.social on a Contracts for Innovation competition, with £2M available for non-animal approaches in pharmacokinetic prediction and cardiovascular safety.

Learn more: nc3rs.org.uk/news/working...

Bundles of skeletal muscle fibres next to the CRACK IT logo. Text reads: Webinar, Thursday 5 March.

📢 Webinar – Human in vitro tissue models of musculoskeletal disease and injury: nc3rs.org.uk/events/human...

📅 Thursday 5 March, 14.00 (GMT)

Learn more about an in vitro vascularised and innervated skeletal muscle model of traumatic injury, developed through our STRATIS CRACK IT Challenge.

An outline of a dog, the NC3Rs and VICT3R logos.

Virtual Second Species: Data driven and mechanistic modelling of the dog
📅 3 March, 13.00 (GMT)/14.00 (CET)
👉 nc3rs.org.uk/events/virtu...

In their next ‘Virtually Speaking’ webinar, VICT3R @ihi-vict3r.bsky.social are showcasing the ‘Virtual Dog’ being developed through an NC3Rs CRACK IT Challenge.

Many medicines entering clinical trials fail because pre-clinical testing does not accurately predict effects in humans.

A key reason? A gap between some 'pre-clinical models' and industry needs.

A new ABPI/@nc3rs.bsky.social review sets out how to close this gap. abpi.org.uk/publications...

A landscape review of human relevant pre-clinical model development in the UK New report by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and the NC3Rs examines the UK's capabilities in developing human relevant pre-clinical models for medicine development.

We are delighted to publish a report with @abpi.bsky.social that examines the UK landscape in human relevant in vitro models. It will help inform wider policy, funding and infrastructure requirements to accelerate translation and deliver benefits for pharmaceutical R&D. nc3rs.org.uk/news/landsca...

Early career researchers in discussion at a scientific training session.

We are working with @oga-community.bsky.social to recruit a cohort of early career researchers who will drive the validation and use of better antibodies. Are you our next Antibody Champion?

More details, eligibility and application process: nc3rs.org.uk/news/antibod...

Registration deadline: If you would like to join us on Thursday (5 February) for our interactive webinar on commercialising NAMs technologies, please register by 13.00 on Wednesday.

Delegates in discussion at a scientific meeting.

📢 Delivering the alternatives strategy – Pharmacokinetics and cardiac safety: nc3rs.org.uk/events/nc3rs...

Join us and @innovateuk.bsky.social to explore how research collaboration and innovation can deliver government targets to replace animal use in drug development.

📅 10 March, Central London

Data-driven design of fish cell line-based reproductive toxicity assays Outcomes from the SAFE CRACK IT Challenge to replace fish studies in chemical safety screening and environmental risk assessment.

Webinar recording – Replacing fish studies in chemical safety screening and regulatory environmental risk assessment: nc3rs.org.uk/3rs-resource...

Learn more about fish cell line-based reproductive toxicity assays developed by aQuaTox Solutions GmbH and Eawag through our SAFE CRACK IT Challenge.

The 3Rs Collaborative logo and an icon representing artificial intelligence 3Rs approaches. Text reads: AI survey.

Do you use artificial intelligence to improve toxicity prediction, support regulatory science or reduce the reliance on animal use in safety assessment?

Share your work and insights with the 3Rs Collaborative AI Initiative: forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/respon...

⏰ Survey closes: 21 February.

Welfare webinars Practical welfare refinements to support positive change in day-to-day practice.

📢 Due to unforeseen circumstances this webinar has been postponed.

If you have already registered, you will receive an email with further information. Registration will re-open when a new date is confirmed.

Previous welfare webinar recordings are available online: nc3rs.org.uk/3rs-resource...

📢 Due to unforeseen circumstances this webinar has been postponed.

If you have already registered, you will receive an email with further information. Registration will re-open when a new date is confirmed.

Previous welfare webinar recordings are available online: nc3rs.org.uk/3rs-resource...

Icons representing new approach methodologies in toxicology and regulatory safety assessment, including a laboratory flask, a computer model of a chemical structure and an environmental scene.

Join the conversation about commercialising new approach methodologies (NAMs) for safety assessment in an interactive webinar featuring a live Q&A with expert method developers at our next NAMs Network event.

📅 5 February, 13.00 (GMT)
⏰ Registration closes: 4 February
👉 nc3rs.org.uk/events/nc3rs...

Galleria mellonella wax moth larvae in silk.

Galleria mellonella offers researchers an alternative to traditional vertebrate animal models in many fields and the NC3Rs has supported a number of projects that demonstrate its versatility across a range of applications.

Explore our funding portfolio to find out more: nc3rs.org.uk/our-portfoli...

Galleria mellonella rearing manual Developed by the Galleria Mellonella Research Centre at the University of Exeter, to support consistent, reliable and reproducible insect husbandry.

@gmrc.bsky.social has published its rearing manual online: nc3rs.org.uk/3rs-resource...

Reviewed by the NC3Rs and other external experts, this resource supports consistent, reliable and reproducible insect husbandry and empowers institutions to adopt wax moth larvae as a partial replacement model.

Welfare webinar: Habituation of minipigs, non-human primates and dogs for procedures in toxicology studies Practical guidance to reduce stress during inhalation studies, blood sampling and ophthalmological exams.

Are you involved in toxicology studies with dogs, minipigs or non-human primates? Register for our next welfare webinar to learn habituation techniques to refine their use in safety assessment: nc3rs.org.uk/events/welfa...

📅 29 January, 12.30 – 13.30 (GMT)

⏰ Registration closes: 28 January

The Experimental Design Assistant (EDA) logo and the Love Methods Week logo with #LoveMethods26

Register for our online workshop ‘Rigorous experiments and clear communication with the Experimental Design Assistant’ as part of Love Methods Week this January: nc3rs.org.uk/events/love-...

📅 20 January, 9.00 – 11.00 (GMT)
⏰ Registration closes 19 January
📜 Certificates of attendance available

It's definitely worth a read. We were pleased to have the opportunity to provide evidence and contributions to the note given our expertise and long-standing programmes in this area working with researchers and organisations across the sector.

Technology alternatives to animals in life sciences research How is the UK replacing animal testing with technology alternatives? What are the opportunities, risks and barriers?

2026 is continuing where 2025 left off with a focus on alternatives to animal use in research and testing. Today the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology published a POSTnote on this topic highlighting the opportunities and challenges: post.parliament.uk/research-bri...

New WHO guidelines on non-animal tests for quality control of biologics Developed in direct response to NC3Rs recommendations, new guidance supports manufacturers and regulators to transition to non-animal testing strategies.

Developed in direct response to NC3Rs recommendations, new guidance from the World Health Organisation (@who.int) encourages manufacturers and regulators to replace or remove animal-based quality control methods for vaccines and biologics: nc3rs.org.uk/news/new-who...

A team of scientists on the BBSRC-NC3Rs ICURe Explore programme working on their commercialisation plans.

Eight teams kick-started the commercialisation of their 3Rs tools and technologies this year through the BBSRC-NC3Rs ICURe Explore programme.

Learn more about their success and next steps to translate new approaches into real-world applications that minimise animal use: nc3rs.org.uk/news/driving...

Welfare webinar: Socialisation and positive reinforcement training for pigs and dogs Practical examples of how positive reinforcement techniques can be applied in a research environment to improve animal welfare.

If you are interested in training methods for laboratory animals, the previous webinar in this series focusing on socialisation and positive reinforcement training for pigs and dogs is available to watch in our 3Rs resource library: nc3rs.org.uk/3rs-resource...

Welfare webinar: Habituation of minipigs, non-human primates and dogs for procedures in toxicology studies Practical guidance to reduce stress during inhalation studies, blood sampling and ophthalmological exams.

Our next welfare webinar will focus on practical guidance to habituate dogs, minipigs and non-human primates to procedures in toxicology studies, minimising stress and refining their use in safety assessment.

📅 Thursday 29 January, 12.30 – 13.30 (GMT)

👉 Register: nc3rs.org.uk/events/welfa...

A timeline of the key phases of work that led to development of the new OCED guidance document: global survey (2021-2023), data review (2023), international workshop (2024), decision-making tool (2024), OECD Test Guidelines workplan (2024-2026).

The OECD has agreed to develop new guidance that will reduce the number of fish used in some environmental toxicology studies. This is a result of work led by the NC3Rs and collaborators to understand and solve challenges in vitellogenin assessment.

Find out more: nc3rs.org.uk/news/new-int...

Dr Esther Pearl, NC3Rs Programme Manager for Experimental Design, presenting about experimental rigour in animal research.

Join @drejpearl.bsky.social at @unistrathclyde.bsky.social 3Rs day next week for an interactive workshop on using the Experimental Design Assistant to design rigorous in vivo experiments, with live support and guidance on hand.

📅 Friday 5 December
👉 Find out more: nc3rs.org.uk/events/unive...

Registration is now closed. A recording of the webinar will be made available in our 3Rs resource library in due course: nc3rs.org.uk/3rs-resources

The strategy also recognises that animal research will remain important for years to come, acknowledging the need for animal research in parallel with the drive, coordination & funding required to achieve the ethical, scientific & economic benefits that innovations in animal alternatives can bring.

There are clear actions outlined in the strategy to change the whole research ecosystem—from funders and universities to publishers and regulators—to enable rapid exploitation of scientific and technological opportunities to minimise reliance on animals in research.

Our Chief Executive Vicky Robinson appears in @resprofnews.bsky.social today, in an opinion piece focusing on the UK government's ambitious strategy to replace the use of animals in research and testing: www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v....