Latest news from the NC3Rs: April 2023

Our newly evolved 2023 PhD Studentship competition is seeking projects with a replacement impact, as part of our strategy to train the next generation of 3Rs-minded scientists in skills and expertise of non-animal technologies. Up to two joint awards with The British Heart Foundation are also available as part of our continued collaboration. These awards should seek to achieve 3Rs impacts within the cardiovascular field and replacement, reduction or refinement impacts are all in remit. Email studentships@nc3rs.org.uk with any questions.

The NC3Rs is seeking a well-connected and ambitious Board Chair to help steer our work over the next three years. Joining the NC3Rs Board presents an opportunity to help shape the Centre’s strategy and promote the UK’s position as a leader in 3Rs research and development.

We have funded a team from KREATiS to deliver the Thyroid Tox Challenge. KREATiS will develop an in silico tool to predict endocrine disruption via the thyroid receptor. This Challenge aims to replace some of the large numbers of animals currently required for reproductive and developmental toxicology studies.

We have paired with the konfer smart-matching technology tool to accelerate the commercial readiness of 3Rs technologies. There are two new collaboration opportunities available:

• The University of Bristol are developing acoustic technology for complex cell models and are looking for insights from experts in the challenges of organoid or complex in vitro models.
• ConsoneAI are seeking collaborators who specialise in drug discovery to help verify their toxicity prediction platform.

Sunday 30 April – Thursday 4 May, Dublin (Ireland)

Our Programme Manager for Environmental Safety, Dr Natalie Burden, will be attending the Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Europe’s 2023 meeting. Natalie will be presenting a poster on endocrine disruption assays, and is co-author for a further five presentations. Attendees can also hear from the aQuaTox-Solutions team who are developing innovative bioassays to replace in vivo fish studies to solve the Safety Assessment of Fish adverse Effect (SAFE) CRACK IT Challenge.

Wednesday 17 May, 16.00 – 17.00 (BST)

Our Experimental Design Assistant (EDA) tool helps researchers at any level design robust in vivo experiments. Following a presentation on the key aspects of the online tool, Dr Esther Pearl (NC3Rs Experimental Design Programme Manager) will answer questions on how you can use the EDA to design and plan your next study. Limited spaces are available on a first come first served basis and attendees are eligible for CPD points.

Monday 22 – Wednesday 24 May 2023, Leeds, Birmingham and London

Are you interested in hearing about the latest 3Rs advancements and innovations from the comfort of your local? The NC3Rs is returning to Pint of Science, the annual science festival that brings researchers and the public together to talk science in pubs, cafes and local spaces. Join us at our three events across the country to hear from local NC3Rs grant holders about their research.

Wednesday 7 – Thursday 8 June, central London

We are pleased to be co-hosting the 2023 Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI) annual meeting on the theme of Not just another NAMs meeting: NAMs for Safety Assessment, From Aspiration to Implementation. Through discussion among various experts, the meeting will focus on core questions relating to the practical application of NAMs across different sectors, touching on elements of safety evaluation. If you are a researcher, policy-maker or regulator interested in navigating the often complex intersection between innovation, health protection and the 3Rs – this is the event for you. 

Helpathalon Hotel aim to accelerate innovation in animal-free biomedical research by organising intensive, interdisciplinary consortia called ‘Helpathons’ (similar to the more well-known Hackathon!). They are looking for researchers with practical experience using Matrigel and FCS, or experts in animal-free culture alternatives to join their latest Helpathon.