3Rs - search page

NORINA is an English-language database containing information on over 3,500 audiovisual aids that may be used as alternatives or supplements to the use of animals in education and training, including dissection alternatives, at all levels from Junior School to University.  The information in the database has been collected from 1991 onwards.

AALAS is an association of professionals that advances responsible laboratory animal care and use to benefit people and animals.

Vaccination of animals against disease protects them from suffering. However, this comes with an animal welfare cost - the safety and efficacy of vaccines is assessed in experimental animals and the tests involved can cause significant pain and distress. There is an ethical dilemma in protecting one set of animals at the expense of others but implementation of the 3Rs can help to resolve this. The research animals department works with researchers involved in vaccine testing and regulators to promote the 3Rs in this important area.

The Classic AVs database complements NORINA by providing information on audiovisual products produced some years ago, using technology which has been surpassed by modern digital techniques. We offer this collection for those who wish to continue to use classic technology.

Initiate activities that may lead to the immediate implementation of the 3Rs.

Welcome to the Experimental Design Assistant, a free resource from the NC3Rs to support researchers in the planning of animal experiments - ensuring robust study design and reliable and reproducible findings.

The EDA consists of a web application and a supporting website; benefits include:
•The ability to build a stepwise visual representation of your experiment
•Feedback and advice on your experimental plan 
•Dedicated support for randomisation, blinding and sample size calculation
•Practical information to improve knowledge of experimental design
•Improved transparency of your experimental design, allowing you to share and discuss your plan with colleagues and collaborators

EU 3Rs databases-The protection and welfare of animals is an area covered by a wide range of EU legislation. This includes the protection of wildlife, zoo animals, farm animals, animals in transport and animals used for scientific purposes. Animal studies, whether for the development or production of new medicines, for physiological studies, for studying environmental effects or for the testing of chemicals or new food additives, has to be carried out in compliance with EU legislation. 

Three Rs Resources

The Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART) and the Ministry for Primary Industries have produced a series of booklets on the application of the three Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement) in the use of animals in research and teaching.

• Cell-based Disease Models (replacement)
• Computer Assisted Learning (replacement)
• Mannequins and Dummies (replacement)
• Alternatives to shellfish toxicity testing (replacement) 
• Fireflies to the rescue (reduction)
• Mathematical models (reduction)
• Tissue sharing (reduction)
• Simple ingenuity (refinement)
• Non-Invasive Methods (refinement)
• Living syringes (refinement)
• Oil emulsified gels (refinement)

This section of the Three Rs microsite provides useful links and information to help visitors easily find a wide range of resources.