Latest news from the NC3Rs: August 2026

Read about the short-term impacts from the £905k we invested in 2024 to accelerate the adoption of animal-free products and reagents in in vitro research, as part of a package of £5M funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology for non-animal methods. Ten awards were made for projects that included the evaluation of recombinant antibodies, chemically-defined media and synthetic matrices for routine cell culture studies. These projects have supported the characterisation, validation or optimisation of over 200 non-animal derived reagents and model components, enabling the replacement of thousands of animals each year.

In our latest blog Fiona Sewell, NC3Rs Head of Toxicology, discusses collaborating with the global toxicology community to find the balance between detecting potential risks of chemicals to human reproductive health while avoiding unnecessary suffering of rats and rabbits used in developmental and reproductive toxicity studies. With considerable differences in views about the workability of updated dose-setting advice from the European Chemicals Agency and concerns about the impacts on animals used, the NC3Rs is a leading voice in facilitating discussions to seek clarity and consensus to ensure chemicals are only tested at the lowest doses necessary to assure protection of human health.

With funding through the NC3Rs Rodent Shelter CRACK IT Challenge, NestLab have developed an in-cage shelter that keeps mice warm to prevent hypothermia while recovering from surgery and allows their welfare to be monitored non-invasively without additional handling. The shelter fits standard cages without rack modifications and supports animal welfare from post-operative recovery through to routine housing. Challenge Sponsors AstraZeneca and the University of Gothenburg worked with the team to ensure the NestLab shelter met end-user requirements by conducting pilot studies to test prototypes.

Thursday 24 September, 12.00 – 13.00 (BST)

The next session in our welfare webinar series will focus on skin swabbing as a refined alternative to fin clipping for DNA sampling, to improve the welfare of fish used in research. Will Norton (University of Leicester) and Mollie Millington (The Francis Crick Institute) will share the latest evidence and practical experience supporting the adoption of skin swabbing for zebrafish genotyping. Certificates of attendance are available.

Tuesday 29 September, 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 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.

Fortnightly series: Tuesdays 29 September – 24 November, 10.30 – 12.30 (BST/GMT)

The RSPCA Animals in Science Department is hosting a series of online workshops for members of UK Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Bodies (AWERBs) to share experiences, identify examples of good practice and develop practical actions that can be implemented within their own establishments. Each session focuses on one of five priority challenges affecting the effective operation of AWERBs across the UK:

• 29 September: Lack of recognition and reward.
• 13 October: Lack of training and Continuing Professional Development.
• 27 October: Insufficient time for AWERB activities.
• 10 November: Need for ‘professionalisation’ and career progression.
• 24 November: Limited liaison with institutional bodies.

Monday 22 Feb – Friday 26 February 2027
ADVANCE training centre at MRC Harwell

This workshop covers practical guidance on experimental design, model selection and breeding strategies for studies involving genetically altered (GA) mice. Intended for researchers, PhD students, technical staff and colony managers who are using – or planning to use – GA mouse models, there will be a particular focus on improving robustness and reproducibility to maximise the scientific value of these studies and reduce the number of animals involved.