Animals in chemical safety testing

In 2008, we launched a programme to advance the application of the 3Rs in chemical safety testing. We work closely with regulators and international chemicals and consumer products companies, as well as contract research organisations to generate an evidence base to support changes in policy and practice.

We have focused our activities on identifying new 3Rs opportunities through data sharing and our open innovation programme CRACK IT. This work has highlighted how the 3Rs can be applied to toxicity testing without compromising the chemical development process, regulatory requirements or human/environmental safety. An essay authored by NC3Rs Programme Managers in PLOS Biology summarises the current status and challenges of applying alternative approaches in chemical safety testing.

Redundancy in the acute toxicity testing of chemicals
Identifying opportunities to waive the acute toxicity testing of chemicals
Adoption of the Fixed Concentration Procedure for acute inhalation studies
Reducing and refining regulatory acute inhalation toxicity tests
Toxicokinetics in the chemicals industry
Applying toxicokinetic information to reduce and refine animal use in chemical safety assessment
Applying pathways-based approaches across the biosciences
Our office-led programme which aims to increase the utility of mechanistic approaches in safety assessment
Pathways-based approaches resource page
Information and news on the development and application of pathways-based approaches
Opportunities to apply the 3Rs in the safety assessment of nanomaterials
Short, medium and long-term opportunities to increase uptake of alternative approaches in nanotoxicology
In vitro approaches for carcinogenicity testing
Replacing in vivo carcinogenicity screens with human cell-based systems
Microsampling
Guidance on microsampling
Maximising the success of bile duct cannulation studies
Refining rat BDC studies
Applying exposure science to increase the utility of non-animal data in efficacy and safety testing
Bringing together experts in the fields of exposure science, efficacy and toxicology to increase the uptake of non-animal approaches
Animals in environmental safety testing
Our work in ecotoxicity testing
Other chemical safety testing resources
Additional information, resources and references