Investing in infrastructure for animal replacement methods
The NC3Rs has published a report highlighting the impacts of the first UK funding call for infrastructure to strengthen national capabilities in methods that replace the use of animals.
In 2024, the NC3Rs received additional funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). The funding provided a significant opportunity to address a key barrier to uptake of animal replacement methods – the limited access to infrastructure and specialist resources.
Eleven awards totalling £3.95M were made through a competitive call. The funding enabled national facilities to be established for stem cells, bioprinting, organoids and organ-on-a-chip systems, providing greater access to these technologies as well as training opportunities for researchers across the UK. Since the awards were made in September 2024 more than 1,800 researchers have benefited from the facilities and over 120 academic and industry partnerships are helping to embed the technologies into research practice. Together, these awards are replacing the use of thousands of animals annually and creating sustainable infrastructure to support the continued adoption of non-animal methods across the UK.
The case studies highlighted in the report illustrate the breadth of projects supported and their scientific and animal replacement impacts.
Read the full report: Non-animal methods infrastructure grants.
The additional funding from DSIT was a great boost to the work of the NC3Rs allowing us to invest £3.95M in the infrastructure and national capabilities that are essential for the transition to methods and technologies that replace the use of animals. Our detailed understanding of the strategic needs and extensive networks were critical for making the most of this new funding opportunity, which was delivered with tight timelines.
– Katie Bates, NC3Rs Head of Research Funding.