Apply for this years’ 3Rs Prize
Sponsored by GSK, the NC3Rs annual international 3Rs Prize recognises both emerging and established models, tools and technologies to advance the 3Rs.
Whether you have developed a new model with the potential to replace animal studies or are driving innovation in welfare technologies to refine animal use, put your publication forward for consideration. We welcome applications from around the world, across academia and industry and spanning the medical, biological and veterinary sciences.
Over its 21-year history, the 3Rs Prize has recognised pioneering scientific advances that have gone on to have major impacts on animal use. Recent winners have focused on replacement, including a method to assess animal-free antibody performance, non-animal approaches for regulatory testing of hormone products, an organoid model of the adaptive immune response and a benchtop method for fabricating organ-on-chip devices. In vivo research techniques recognised by the 3Rs Prize have included microsampling as a refined approach to blood sampling, refined mouse handling, the importance of burrowing, climbing and standing upright for laboratory rat welfare and refined oral dosing for dogs.
The Prize Panel will review original research with 3Rs impacts, published in the past three years. You can apply whether the 3Rs were the primary aim of your work or a valuable secondary outcome, and even if the 3Rs impact of the work has yet to be realised.
The Prize includes a £28k prize grant and a £2k personal award. GSK contributes £20k to the award, with the remaining funds, including the personal award, provided by the NC3Rs. The Prize grant is designed to maximise the 3Rs impact of your published research, from purchasing equipment and consumables needed to facilitate follow-on work, to supporting training or dissemination activities that encourage wider uptake of your 3Rs approach. The 3Rs Prize winner will have the opportunity to present their research at a celebration event later this year.
“Through our continued partnership, we look forward to inspiring the next generation of scientific leaders dedicated to the 3Rs and to shaping the future of medicine through innovative, responsible research."
GSK, 3Rs Prize sponsor
Invited applications
We encourage applications from researchers:
- In academia or industry.
- At any career stage.
- Regardless of the research funder.
Any author on the paper may submit their publication for consideration. The Prize is awarded to the researcher(s) who made a substantial contribution to the work, which may include multiple authors (e.g. joint first authors), and can be awarded collectively as a team where appropriate.
“I want to emphasise that this was very straightforward to apply for, the form was very easy to download and fill out and so if you think that you might be a good applicant you should absolutely take the opportunity to apply.”
Dr Lisa Wagar, California Irvine University in the USA, 3Rs Prize winner for an entirely animal-free organoid model of the adaptive immune response.
Why might this be a great opportunity for you?
Applying for the 3Rs Prize gives you the chance to:
- Be recognised for your 3Rs and scientific impacts on the international stage.
- Receive funding to further develop and disseminate your work.
- Join a growing list of outstanding researchers recognised by the Prize.
“This recognition is the validation of years of passion and dedication to research and symbolises the fulfilment of my commitment to advancing science in an ethical and innovative way.”
Dr Renata N.C Nundes, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, highly commended for an in vitro alternative to the lethality neutralisation assay for snakebite antivenom testing.
Eligibility criteria
Your publication must:
- Be a primary research article – this includes experimental or laboratory-based research.
- Have been published in a peer-reviewed journal between 1 September 2022 and 1 September 2025.
- Include actual or potential 3Rs impact, whether achieved as a primary aim or as a secondary benefit.
Please note review articles including systematic reviews and meta-analyses are not eligible.
The Prize recognises major advancements in any of the 3Rs.
“This award highlights the meaningful impact that open, community-driven efforts can have on both scientific progress and ethical practice."
Dr Carl Laflamme, McGill University in Montreal, Canada, 3Rs Prize winner for a strategy to screen new high-quality alternatives to animal-derived antibodies.
Interested in applying?
Please complete our short application form and submit by email, with the research paper attached, to 3rsprize@nc3rs.org.uk.
We encourage all applicants to read our guidance to help you showcase the 3Rs and scientific impacts of your publication.
Find out more and apply for the International 3Rs Prize.
Find out more and apply. The deadline to submit your application is 4 May 2026.