Latest news from the NC3Rs: August 2022

We are collaborating with BBSRC to fund the development and use of next generation non‑animal technologies in bioscience research as alternatives to in vivo models. The application form is now available on Je‑S and must be submitted by Thursday 8 September. More information on the scope of the call, eligibility criteria and application process is available on our website, along with a recording of our webinar for potential applicants.

A new issue of our newsletter for animal technicians is available online to read and print for your facility. In this edition, we share the results of our 2022 reader survey alongside refinements for laboratory birds, refined rabbit handling, environmental enrichment for zebrafish and upcoming events.

We are recruiting for two members to join the NC3Rs Board from 1 January 2023. One of these new appointments will also be appointed as Chair of the CRACK IT Advisory Panel.

Joining the Board presents an opportunity to help shape the NC3Rs strategy and promote the UK’s position as a world leader in 3Rs research and development.

CRACK IT Challenges focus on developing products and services that deliver scientific and 3Rs benefits in key areas of research. This year two Challenges have been set by industrial Sponsors and the NC3Rs:

• T‑ALERT: Animal‑free tumourigenicity assessment of CAR‑T and other genetically modified T cells.
• Thyroid Tox: Development of an in silico model to predict thyroid receptor mediated human endocrine disruption.

We are holding webinars in September to give anyone interested in applying the opportunity to learn more and ask the Sponsors questions, after which the Challenges will be open for applications.

Software development company Legal Pythia has developed a web‑based tool that can track and map events and decisions within organisations to help generate reports, assessments and forecasts. The team are developing the tool to deliver 3Rs benefits through improving transparency and reducing unnecessary duplication of experiments. They are seeking collaborators in the animal research sector to further explore this potential.

Tuesday 8 November, 12.00 – 17.45 (GMT)

Central London/online (hybrid)

The programme for this year’s Primate Welfare Meeting is now available, featuring a range of presentations and posters on topics from breeding and husbandry to research use and welfare assessment. Attendees are encouraged to join in‑person to take advantage of the networking opportunities, but delegates will be able to view the live stream remotely to ensure the sessions are available to the global community.

If you are a researcher, veterinarian, technician or facility manager working directly with laboratory non‑human primates, be sure to register and reserve your place.

Thursday 15 September, 14.00 – 16.00 (BST)

Online

We are hosting a joint webinar with the British Toxicology Society (BTS) focusing on the 3Rs, scientific and business benefits of microsampling for blood collection. Presentations will showcase how microsampling is currently being implemented, address barriers to wider adoption, and discuss how your organisation can reduce and refine animal use with this technique. The webinar will be relevant for all academic, regulatory and industry scientists interested in applying the 3Rs in rodent and non‑rodent studies.

Fish acute toxicity studies are the most widely conducted ecotoxicology test and cause severe suffering, with many thousands of animals used worldwide each year. This webinar features presentations on approaches to support replacement of the use of late life stage animals, and a retrospective data analysis project to identify potential reductions in regulatory fish testing.

The MRC has recently introduced the requirement to include both sexes in experimental design and analysis plans for future funding rounds. This joint MRC/NC3Rs webinar explores how to address common challenges when planning, conducting and analysing animal experiments involving both sexes. The webinar recording is now available, along with other resources giving practical advice and tips.

Every two years the European Partnership for Alternatives to Animal Testing (EPAA) awards their 3Rs Science Prize to a researcher who has made an outstanding contribution to the 3Rs within regulatory testing. This year’s call for applications is now open – scientists from both industry and academia with up to 10 years' postgraduate experience are encouraged to apply.

Applications should be sent to grow-epaa@ec.europa.eu by 12.00 (CEST) by Monday 3 October.