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Over the last two years, representatives from the UK’s stroke research community have been working, in a collaboration led by the NC3Rs, to improve the welfare and increase the scientific value of rodent models of stroke. The findings from the collaboration - The IMPROVE Guidelines (Ischaemia Models: Procedural Refinements Of in Vivo Experiments)  have been published in the Journal of Cerebral Bloodflow and Metabolism.

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. 

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.

FRAME is dedicated to the development of new and valid methods that will replace the need for laboratory animals in medical and scientific research, education, and testing. Where the use of animals is currently necessary, FRAME supports the reduction of numbers involved to an unavoidable minimum and refinement of experimental procedures to minimise any suffering caused. The E-learning resource of FRAME has been set up to provide teachers, school children, students and general supporters with information about the different areas of animal experimentation and with specific resources as to how it can be reduced, refined or replaced. 

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

Guiding principles on good practice for Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Bodies (2015) (PDF 1.76MB). Developed and published jointly by the RSPCA and the Laboratory Animal Science Association (LASA), this resource aims to help in the efficient and effective operation of local animal welfare and ethical review bodies.