Latest news from the NC3Rs: April 2026

Thank you to everyone who attended our workshop on refined mouse handling at the Institute of Animal Technology (IAT) Congress, delivered with expert staff from Newcastle University – explore our range of resources to support the implementation of cup and tunnel mouse handling methods. Congratulations to Fluid Pharma for winning the Congress science-based welfare poster competition for work with the University of Cambridge demonstrating that a palatable oral tamoxifen product, Tat-Fit, achieves effective gene deletion in mice without causing weight loss. Developed with NC3Rs CRACK IT Challenge funding, Tat-Fit offers a refined alternative to oral gavage and intraperitoneal injection for tamoxifen dosing.

Finally, don’t miss out, the deadline to submit your publication for this year’s 3Rs Prize is fast approaching! If you have a piece of 3Rs research that is already making, or has strong potential to make, a substantial 3Rs impact complete the short application form by Monday 4 May for the chance for your work to be recognised on the global stage.

Antibody Champions to deliver 3Rs impact across the UK

Working with the Only Good Antibodies (OGA) community we have recruited 16 early career researchers who will drive the validation and uptake of better antibodies to address the waste of animals in the production and use of poorly characterised and inadequately performing antibodies. Over a 12-month programme, Antibody Champions will be given training in antibody selection and validation in order to provide guidance and promote best practice at their institutions around the country.

NAMs Technology Partn3Ring webinars: Recordings and upcoming sessions

Our new approach methodologies (NAMs) series showcases technologies to replace animal use in toxicity testing and provides collaboration opportunities for their further development, qualification and use.

Session 1: Recordings and speaker contact details are available
Topics included the use of C. elegans in drug development and a neuromuscular junction-on-a-chip for toxicity assessment.
Session 2: Wednesday 6 May, Registration open
Topics include brain tumour modelling, advanced proteome arrays and stem cell platforms.
Session 3: Wednesday 20 May, Registration open
Topics include in vitro models to replace the use of animals in bone, liver, heart and lung assays.

Watch the recordings and register for upcoming sessions.

Tickets on sale: Pint of Science

Monday 18 ⁠–⁠ Wednesday 20 May
Newcastle, Bristol and London

Join us and NC3Rs-funded scientists for an evening showcasing the latest innovations in replacement approaches and exploring the future of alternatives to animal research, as the NC3Rs returns to the annual Pint of Science festival ⁠–⁠ a mainstay of our public engagement programme. Each of our events in 2026 features a senior scientist who is making non-animal research tools available to researchers around the UK and an early career researcher developing the next generation of models to replace animals.

Find out more and buy tickets for Pint of Science 2026:

Virtual workshop: Using the Experimental Design Assistant

Thursday 21 May, 9.00 – 11.00 (BST)

The NC3Rs Experimental Design Assistant (EDA) tool helps researchers at any level design robust in vivo experiments. During this interactive session Dr Esther Pearl (Programme Manager – Experimental Design) will give a live demonstration of the EDA before answering your questions and providing personalised feedback as you design your own experiment.

Navigating the NAM pathway: From innovation to implementation

Monday 22 June, 10.00 – 18.00
Central London

This NC3Rs NAMs Network event will explore how to move new approach methodologies (NAMs) from innovation towards industry and regulatory use to replace animals in safety assessment. Bringing together method developers, regulators, industry, CROs and policy stakeholders, the meeting focuses on capability building and progressing NAMs towards industry uptake and regulatory acceptance across sectors and regimes. Sessions will cover partnerships and commercialisation, regulatory pathways to acceptance and real-world case studies on applying NAM data for decision making.

Poster abstract submission closes: Tuesday 26 May.
Registration closes: Thursday 4 June.

RSPCA 7th International Focus on Severe Suffering Meeting

Monday 22 – Tuesday 23 June
Madrid, Spain

The RSPCA Animals in Science department's Focus on Severe Suffering initiative focuses on avoiding or refining procedures that cause the highest levels of pain, suffering or distress for laboratory animals. The theme of their 7^th international meeting will be Progress in refinement: Addressing severe suffering across disciplines. Sessions include case studies in oncology, neuroscience and infectious disease, alongside compassion fatigue and a workshop on the RSPCA roadmap to reducing severe suffering.

Registration closes: Sunday 14 June.

Find out more and register.

Sex as a biological variable (SABV) symposium 2026

Tuesday 23 – Wednesday 24 June
Zurich, Switzerland

Female and male animals, tissues and cells should be included in experiments to generate generalisable and meaningful results and reduce overall animal numbers. The SABV biennial symposium focuses on practical strategies to integrate biological sex into study design. The programme will explore the biological basis of sex differences, their underlying mechanisms and significance in health and disease, with a special focus on hormone-sensitive stages of female reproduction.

Abstract submission closes: Friday 15 May.