3Rs - search page

The use of animals in scientific research remains a vital tool in improving our understanding of how biological systems work both in health and disease, and in the development of new medicines, treatments and technologies. Underpinning this research is a strong commitment to maintaining a rigorous regulatory system which ensures that animal research is carried out only where no practicable alternative exists and under controls which keep suffering to a minimum. This is achieved through robustly applying the principles of the 3Rs to all research proposals involving the use of animals.

ALTBIB is a search tool that retrieves PubMed citations on alternatives to the use of live vertebrates in biomedical research and testing. It includes citations from published articles, books, book chapters, and technical reports. It also provides links to news sources and additional resources on alternatives to animal testing.

A wide variety of topics are covered, including biologics and vaccines, carcinogenesis, cytotoxicity, ecotoxicity, genotoxicity, hepatic/renal toxicity, immunotoxicity/immunology, neurotoxicity, ocular toxicity, pharmacokinetic/mechanistic studies, pyrogenicity, pulmonary toxicity, quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR), reproductive and developmental toxicity, skin toxicity, and animal welfare.

Guidlines from the British Psychological Society's Standing Advisory Committee on the Welfare of Animals in Psychology. This was developed in cooperation with EPS.

ALTEX publishes original articles, short communications, and reviews, as well as news and comments, meeting reports, and book reviews. Animal experiments are defined by the editors as all experimental procedures involving the use of animals in testing, research, and education, or to obtain tissues, organs, and other animal derived products that may cause pain or distress to animals..

Understanding Animal Research aim to provide all you want to know about animal research, whether you are a concerned member of the public or have a special interest.

The use of animals in research, teaching and testing is an important ethical and political issue. Much of the discussion about this issue revolves around the relative value, often referred to as 'moral value', of humans and animals.

Animal Welfare  is an international scientific and technical journal. It publishes the results of peer-reviewed scientific research, technical studies and reviews relating to the welfare of kept animals (eg on farms, in laboratories, zoos and as companions) and of those in the wild whose welfare is compromised by human activities.

Database on alternatives on the internat-Zebet- One of the tasks of ZEBET is to provide scientists from industry, universities and public authorities with information on alternative methods in a database developed for that specific purpose. Since February 2000 the ZEBET database on alternative methods to animal experiments has been accessible without license fees on the Internet in German and English through the German Institute for Medical Documentation and Information (DIMDI). Please note this website is no longer updated. This is a resource only.

Over the past twenty years or so, there has been a ‘revolution’ in the life sciences,and our knowledge and capabilities have dramatically increased. At the same time, these advances have raised very important ethical concerns in both the scientific community and with the public at large.