Antibody Champions to deliver widespread 3Rs impact

Batch-to-batch variation in animal-derived antibodies impacts target specificity and reproducibility between experiments. Experiments which give inaccurate results or are not reproducible delay scientific progress and drug development pipelines and lead to the unnecessary use of animals when in vivo studies are used.  

The UK Government identified increased adoption of non-animal derived antibodies and affinity reagents as a priority in its recently published strategy to replace animal use in science. The strategy highlighted lack of awareness and education in the utility of alternative affinity technologies as a factor that has limited their use by the research community. 

The new joint OGA/NC3Rs Antibody Champions scheme will recruit early career researchers and help drive the validation and use of high-quality antibodies across the research community. Over a 12-month programme, OGA will provide training in antibody selection and validation, ensuring that antibodies selected for use are the most likely to give accurate and reproducible results. Antibody Champions will take this knowledge back to their own institutions, providing guidance and promoting best practice locally. This will include highlighting the advantages of using non-animal derived antibodies over traditional monoclonal/polyclonal antibodies, and how to search for or generate antibody validation data.  

"The ambitions set out in the government's alternatives strategy in this area, alongside our previous work to scope out the challenges faced by the community, make the establishment of the Antibody Champions scheme timely. We look forward to working with the Champions to drive change in antibody selection and use across the scientific community, reducing animal use and improving the reliability of research in this area."

Dr Rachel Eyre, NC3Rs Programme Manager and lead for the Antibody Champions Scheme. 

Become an Antibody Champion

We are searching for motivated early career researchers, including PhD students and postdoctoral scientists, who are keen to promote best research practice and drive change – applicants are not expected to already be experts in antibody validation as all training will be provided. The scheme is open to UK-based early career scientists working in academia or industry. 

This is a development opportunity designed to fit alongside your ongoing research. Benefits include: 

• Working with national organisations to help drive meaningful change in research culture.
• Demonstrating scientific leadership and engagement beyond the bench.
• In-person training on communication and influencing delivered by professional leadership trainers Inspire Change.
• Expanding your professional network.
• Access to a technical expert mentor in antibody validation (including experts from AstraZeneca, YCharOS and OGA).

Travel expenses and training materials will be provided. 

Learn more about the Antibody Champion scheme including how to apply.

NC3Rs collaboration with the OGA

The OGA is a collaboration of biomedical and behavioural scientists working with diverse stakeholders to improve the reliability of research that uses antibodies. We held a joint meeting with the OGA in 2024 that brought together representatives from academic research and publishing, antibody production and the pharmaceutical industry. During this meeting, stakeholders identified actions to improve the integrity and reproducibility of biomedical research involving antibodies. One such action was an education programme to train PhD students in approaches that can be used to perform antibody validation, which has led to the establishment of the Antibody Champion scheme. 

Read more about our work in this area

• NC3Rs/OGA meeting report: Defining the role of antibodies in improving research reproducibility
  Includes cross-sector discussions on the challenges, positive changes to date and actions to improve research using antibodies.
• NC3Rs meeting report: Accelerating the replacement of animal-derived antibodies
  Includes a summary of the benefits of non-animal derived affinity technologies and recommendations to support scientists adopt them.
• Funding: Characterisation of antibodies and affinity reagents 
  We awarded Dr Havinder Virk of the OGA £100k to validate alternatives to animal-derived antibodies as robust and reproducible alternatives.