National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs)

Register now for our upcoming webinar on how thorough planning and transparent recording of in vivo studies increases the quality of research data: https://lnkd.in/euustHJs 💡 Learn how templates such as the ARRIVE study plan can support effective harm-benefit analysis and boost the scientific rigour of your experiments. • Dr Frances Rawle will provide an overview of the ethical review landscape in the UK. • Lauren Cresser, HOLC and NIO, will showcase how their study plan infrastructure supports the conduct of high-quality experiments. • Dr Stephen Turnock, NC3Rs programme manager for best practice in animal research, will present the new ARRIVE study plan, a template for the transparent communication of planned in vivo studies. 🙋♂️ Designed for all those involved in animal research and ethical review. 📅 Thursday 30 January, 14.00 – 15.00 (GMT).

🧪💊We have awarded £1M for in vitro and in silico approaches to better predict developmental toxicity in drug development: https://lnkd.in/eHqjAKbN A team led by Dr Amer Jamalpoor at Toxys has been awarded further funding through the CrossDART CRACK IT Challenge to continue to develop and qualify multi-species in vitro assays. The project aims to reduce reliance on in vivo embryo-fetal developmental studies and improve translation and human relevancy. Their existing human ReproTracker® assay will be expanded to include rat and rabbit stem cells to provide species-specific predictions. The multi-species assays will be qualified with reference compounds and the data generated will be integrated into computational models to make species-specific predictions of teratogenicity in vivo. Read more about the CrossDART CRACK IT Challenge: https://lnkd.in/e3JsJ6xa Find out more about the ReproTracker® assay: https://lnkd.in/e_eCGwts The funding is based on successful proof-of-concept work. The project is supported by in-kind contributions (e.g. expertise, end-user requirements, compounds to test and support with regulatory interaction) from eight international sponsors from the pharmaceutical and not-for-profit sectors.

In our new NAMs Network ‘In Conversation’ webinar series we will be joined by industry leaders and community experts to explore the latest developments in new approach methodologies (NAMs) and discuss challenges and opportunities for their wider adoption. The first webinar will focus on opportunities and future directions for applying NAMs under UK chemicals regulations, led by Dr Camilla Alexander-White (MKTox Consultancy) and Dr Natalie Burden (Head of NAMs Strategy, NC3Rs). Join us to learn more about the field, ask questions and contribute to the conversation on advancing the development and use of NAMs. 📅 NAMs Network 'In Conversation': Opportunities under UK chemicals regulations, Wednesday 29 January, 13.00 – 14.00 (GMT): https://lnkd.in/e3zksDB2 This webinar series is exclusively open to members of our NAMs Network – find out more about the Network, its scope and how to register: https://lnkd.in/eaC3cVzU

If you are an educator, science communicator or researcher involved in public engagement, this card game from NC3Rs-funded researcher Dr Joanne Sharpe can help you talk about how scientists choose the right biological model for their experiments and options to replace animal use: https://lnkd.in/eKMY3pD5 💡 Find out more about the activities, events and projects supported by our public engagement award scheme: https://lnkd.in/eFvXZUAC

A huge congratulations to our Board Chair Professor Julia Buckingham CBE, FMedSci who was appointed as a Dame for services to higher education in the King's New Year's Honours List 2025. Dame Julia's leadership, guidance and advice in her role as our Board Chair over the past year has been invaluable in ensuring the NC3Rs is set up for future growth and success.

We have published two articles from our Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded project to review animal testing requirements in World Health Organization guidelines for the quality control and batch release testing of biological products. Our report to WHO, a searchable database of our recommendations for wider integration of the 3Rs and workshop recordings can be found on our dedicated resource page: https://lnkd.in/eiFPyMr9 🌍🤝The first new publication summarises the outputs from the international stakeholder engagement workshops we held to understand the unique perspectives of different sectors and regions. Working with the global biologics community was crucial for the success of the project, to ensure that our recommendations supported the uptake of 3Rs approaches and addressed barriers to adoption around the world. Read the paper: https://lnkd.in/eRxTAkrp Read the blog from Dr Elliot Lilley, NC3Rs programme manager, on how the global biologics community drove the project's success: https://lnkd.in/eM8sAWqb 💉🧪 The second publication outlines our findings and recommendations for the animal tests and 3Rs language in the WHO biologics guidelines that we reviewed. Our suggested revisions include promoting suitable in vitro alternatives, for example the removal of the rabbit pyrogen test in favour of monocyte activation or recombinant factor C tests, and modified language that supports adoption of the latest technologies as new 3Rs advances are made in the future. Read the paper: https://lnkd.in/eNGw6FKg In response to our report, WHO have produced a draft guideline on the phasing out of animal tests for the quality control of biological products which is open for public consultation until Friday 10 January: https://lnkd.in/e3ZeJSz 

As 2024 comes to a close we would like to thank everyone who has helped us celebrate our 20-year anniversary. The number twenty has come up more often than expected, whether it was the milestone of passing 20k user accounts on our Experimental Design Assistant (EDA) or reaching 20k followers across our social media channels! The NC3Rs team would like to wish you all an enjoyable and restful festive break, and we look forward to seeing many of you at our events in 2025, either online or in person. Please note the NC3Rs office will be closed Monday 23 December - Thursday 2 January.

A draft guideline produced by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the phasing out of animal tests for the quality control of biological products is currently open for public consultation. The intention of this guidance is to support manufacturers and regulators to implement the 3Rs while product-specific WHO guidelines are being updated to integrate alternative approaches: https://lnkd.in/e3ZeJSz This is in response to the recommendations from an NC3Rs-led review of the animal testing requirements in WHO quality control and batch release guidelines: https://lnkd.in/eiFPyMr9 

We have committed over £1M to ten new studentships supporting the development of non-animal methods: https://lnkd.in/ebqUj8WT This year’s projects include a range of technologies from complex in vitro models, such as microphysiological systems and organoids, to computational models incorporating machine learning. Alongside their research projects, NC3Rs-funded students benefit from tailored training opportunities to support them in achieving a successful PhD and building their skills to aid a future career in the research ecosystem. Projects include both developing novel technologies and combining existing technologies to apply to new scientific questions and replace the use of animals in research.

As the 2025 CRACK IT Challenge process begins, we sat down with our Advisory Board Chair Professor Michael Capaldi to talk about innovation in the 3Rs and the important role Sponsors play in our Challenges. Sponsors are engaged throughout the project lifetime, from submitting a Challenge idea to collaborating with awardees and providing in-kind contributions, to gaining early access to the 3Rs technology developed to advance R&D and replace, reduce or refine animal use. Hear Mike’s insights on 3Rs innovation and learn more about the benefits of getting involved in the CRACK IT open call: https://lnkd.in/ev8U5_4C