Non-animal approaches across Europe: Driving change Togeth3R

The latest webinar series in our ongoing collaboration with 3Rs centres across Europe showcased advances in model development and opportunities to apply non-animal approaches to the highest areas of animal use for basic research in the UK and Europe*. With scientists from six continents and 53 countries registering to attend, the interest in this series highlights a global drive to develop and use models that deliver the best science and replace animal use.

Watch the recordings to learn more about organoids, microphysiological systems, using patient-derived samples and computational modelling in fields of research associated with high levels of animal use:

• Infection and immunity.
• Oncology.
• Neuroscience.
• Cardiovascular science.

“Collaborating with European 3Rs Centres on this webinar series proved to be a powerful way to promote replacement in these key research areas. Joining forces not only helped showcase cutting-edge non-animal methods, but also amplified our outreach and elevated the visibility of the 3Rs.”

– Aude Rapet, Swiss 3RCC

Each session concluded with a panel discussion where speakers answered questions and shared their perspectives on replacement technologies. Topics covered included the new scientific insights offered by the models, how to validate new approaches and protocols, the importance of clinical relevance and opportunities for personalised medicine, and how to help new users take up alternative approaches in their research.

"Science knows no borders — and neither does the need to find alternatives to animal testing. It was great to join forces to promote replacement methods in such major research areas, and very exciting to see how engaged the audience was with these innovative, non-animal approaches!" 

– Doris Lou Demy, FC3R

Many of our speakers offered to share their expertise and collaboration. Prof Dmitri Rusakov and Dr Leonid Savtchenko showcased their in silico approach to modelling the brain and shared step-by-step instructions of how to access computational tools to model brain cell morphology, physiology and signalling on the Neuroalgebra platform. Dr Caglar Ozturk shared the link to access the DeepCarve algorithm after demonstrating its capabilities to simulate cardiovascular diseases from patient scans to model cardiovascular disease and test medical devices.

“It was fantastic to see thousands of scientists working in fields that typically rely on animal models interested in using non-animal approaches in their work. If just a small percentage of scientists who attended this series start using the approaches they heard about, many thousands of animals worldwide could be replaced.”

– Genevieve Barr, NC3Rs

Organising committee

Organised by The Togeth3R Consortium, a group of eight 3Rs centres from across Europe, the series was a collaborative effort that reflects our shared commitment to advancing and promoting opportunities to replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research.

• Charité 3R, Germany.
• The Danish 3R-Center, Denmark.
• FC3R, France.
• IC-3Rs, Belgium.
• The Swedish 3R Center, Sweden.
• The Swiss 3RCC, Switzerland.
• NC3Rs, UK.
• 3RCU, the Netherlands.

Watch our previous webinar series celebrating advances in the 3Rs in Europe, covering replacement of animal-derived reagents for complex in vitro models and exploring the culture of care.

* According to the latest official statistics on animal use in scientific research and testing, the areas with the highest number of procedures involving living animals for basic research are: the nervous system, the immune system, oncology, and the cardiovascular, blood and lymphatic systems. Figures on animal use are reported separately in the UK and the European Union (plus Norway), but these top four areas are consistent across both.