Replacement, Reduction and Refinement
A UK-based scientific organisation dedicated to helping the research community worldwide to identify, develop and use 3Rs technologies and approaches.
Who we are
The NC3Rs is an independent and autonomous organisation from the UK which focuses on the discovery and adoption of processes that follow and promote the ‘3Rs’ (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) of the use of animals in research. Their website contains some excellent resources for those working in, or with an interest in Animal Ethics. We will be referring to some of those resources in subsequent posts.
We collaborate with scientists and organisations from across the life sciences sector, nationally and internationally, including universities, the pharmaceutical, chemical and consumer products industries, other research funders, and regulatory authorities.
We support the commitment of the scientific community to the 3Rs by funding research and early career development, supporting open innovation and the commercialisation of 3Rs technologies, and stimulating changes in policy, regulations and practice.
The NC3Rs works to pioneer better science through advancing the 3Rs in research.
Our mission is to:
- Support the discovery and adoption of predictive, reproducible and cost-effective alternatives to the use of animals.
- Improve standards where animal use is necessary, optimising model selection and study design and minimising suffering as far as possible.
- Promote the importance of the 3Rs across the scientific community, nationally and internationally, by providing training and embedding the 3Rs in policy, practice and regulations.
The NC3Rs was launched in 2004 in response to the House of Lords Select Committee report on Animals in Scientific Procedures, which recommended the establishment of a national centre to increase the focus on the 3Rs.
Who we work with
We collaborate with scientists and organisations from across the life sciences sector, nationally and internationally, including universities, industry, other research funders and regulatory authorities. These partnerships are essential for both the development of new 3Rs approaches and their implementation in practice.
Our engagement with the scientific community is varied including for example through the awards we make, the use of our online resources and attendance at our symposia and workshops. Many individuals and organisations input into our activities. Examples include:
- Co-funding our grants and CRACK IT (e.g. from the MRC, BBSRC, EPSRC and Innovate UK).
- Co-organising events (e.g. with the Royal Society for Biology, the Physiological Society and the British Pharmacological Society).
- Membership of our expert working groups and funding panels (e.g. scientists from universities, pharmaceutical, chemical and consumer product companies and regulatory bodies).
- Adopting our guidelines (e.g. funders such as the MRC, BBSRC, Wellcome Trust and the AMRC member charities, universities and journals).
We also work closely with professional bodies such as the Laboratory Animal Science Associations and the Institute for Animal Technology. Members of the NC3Rs team are involved in a wide range of committees and other external activities.
